Notable NASCAR Feuds in 2011

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Aug 18, 2011

Notable NASCAR Feuds in 2011

Greg Biffle vs. Boris Said

Boris Said and Greg Biffle were the latest NASCAR drivers to "have at it." After the race at Watkins Glen on Aug. 8, Biffle and Said scuffled, leading Said to say of Biffle, "He's the most unprofessional little scaredy cat I've ever seen in my life. He wouldn't even fight me like a man after, so if somebody texts me his address, I'll go see him Wednesday at his house and show him what he really needs. He needs a freakin' whooping, and I'm going to give it to him." Said and Biffle weren't the only drivers to tussle during the 2011 season. SI.com presents the most notable feuds of the year.

Kurt Busch vs. Jimmie Johnson

The Johnson-Busch feud has been brewing for more than a year, and the rivalry was rekindled after some pushing and shoving at Pocono on Aug. 7. Of Busch, Johnson said: "He's a big crybaby and wants to take shots at me when he can. He's good for running his mouth. He can keep running it. I'll shut it for him." With both drivers in contention for the title, we haven't heard the last of this feud.

Kyle Busch vs. Kevin Harvick

Busch and Harvick are familiar with the feud scene, and the two got into it after Busch spun Harvick out at Darlington on May 8. The incident so infuriated Harvick that he went up to Busch after the race and attempted to physically assault him.

Tony Stewart vs. Brian Vickers

The lesson from this feud? Don't cross Stewart. Stewart spun Vickers out at the June 26 race at Sonoma because, as he claimed, Vickers blocked him. Vickers later retaliated by wrecking Stewart. After the race, Stewart stood by his conviction and put a warning out to all of NASCAR: "I am drawing a line in the sand and the next guy that blocks me, he is going to also suffer the same fate. It doesn't matter who it is. I'll make sure that when I do it the next time that the guy doesn't have the opportunity to come back and wreck me."

Jimmie Johnson vs. Juan Pablo Montoya

Montoya is a known agitator, having created conflicts with several NASCAR drivers. The Johnson-Montoya conflict came to a head after the two bumped on the track at New Hampshire on July 17, sending Johnson into a late-race spin. After the race, Johnson read Montoya the riot act, saying, "I don't think of the three times he's wrecked me it's been intentional, but he's out of mulligans, and I've had enough of, 'Oh, I'm sorry, and you're spun out.' It's happened way too often."

Kyle Busch vs. Carl Edwards

Edwards and Busch have had past confrontations but in 2011, it was a lot of smoke and very little fire. Busch slid into Edwards at Phoenix on Feb. 27, but he later apologized. Edwards insinuated payback was coming but it never materialized. The two drivers are battling for the top spot in the points standing however, so this is far from over.

Robby Gordon vs. Kevin Conway

The Gordon-Conway feud goes far beyond the track. Conway went to race for Gordon's Robby Gordon Motorsports and then sued Gordon for a share of his Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year prize. Later, the two were also involved in a physical altercation in Las Vegas that ended with Conway filing a battery complaint against Gordon.

Juan Pablo Montoya vs. Ryan Newman

Newman claimed Montoya wrecked him intentionally at Richmond on April 30 in retaliation for a wreck earlier in the season at Talladega. After the race, Newman decried Montoya's actions. "To retaliate the way he did just didn't show much class," Newman said.

Kyle Busch vs. Richard Childress

With NASCAR's 'boys, have at it policy' in full effect, driver altercations are quite a common sight. Driver and team owner tussles, though, are a bit more rare. Such was the case, however, after the Truck Series race at Kansas on June 4. According to reports, team owner Richard Childress assaulted Busch after Busch made contact with RCR driver Joey Coulter during the race.