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Over the last 24 years, NASCAR has had its fair share of iconic moments that have happened in front of the TV cameras, with a number of those coming off-track. Here, we’re going to take a look at some of those moments that stand out the most.
The most recent of the moments on this list might have been the most entertaining. After Kyle Busch punted Ricky Stenhouse Jr. on lap two of the 2024 All-Star race at North Wilkesboro, you just knew things weren’t going to end there. And they sure didn’t. Stenhouse waited in the infield for the entirety of the race. As Busch made his way to his hauler, a very angry Stenhouse stood in wait, and a meme-making moment was born. After a heated exchange between the two drivers, Stenhouse wasted no time clocking Busch with a right hook. Chaos ensued, and there were cameras everywhere to capture the moment that will live on in NASCAR infamy.
Keselowski, once known as “Bad Brad,” earned that nickname in his earlier years, and nights like the 2014 Chase race at Charlotte Motor Speedway show why. After being irritated by how he was raced at the end of that event, Keselowski decided to start a war with three drivers: Denny Hamlin, Tony Stewart, and Matt Kenseth. After trying to spin Hamlin unsuccessfully, side-swiping Kenseth and running into the back of Tony Stewart’s car, Keselowski exchanged unpleasantries with Hamlin near the haulers. But it didn’t end there. Keselowski would head back to his hauler, only to be intercepted by a furious Kenseth, who would grab Keselowski and throw him around a bit, before crew members broke up what would have been a great fight.
The infamous “His wife wears the firesuit in the family” comment from a young Joey Logano spurred from a run-in between the two at Pocono in 2010. Going into turn three, Harvick turned Logano and sent the #20 drifting through the corner and nearly making one of the greatest saves in NASCAR history. Logano was visibly upset with the veteran Harvick and pulled his car right up to Harvick’s on pit road to show his displeasure. During his media availability after the race, Logano quoted the now-famous line, which will carry on in NASCAR lore forever.
Possibly the most blatant intentional wreck in NASCAR history came at Martinsville in 2015 at the hands of Matt Kenseth. After Kenseth was spun from the lead by Logano at Kansas Speedway just two races prior, ultimately ending Kenseth’s chance at a championship that year. He didn’t wait long to get his payback. As Logano led at Martinsville with a chance to advance to the championship race with a win, Kenseth took it into his own hands to make sure that didn’t happen and would personally end Logano’s championship hunt by slamming Logano into the outside wall. The crowd roared, and this has easily become the most popular intentional wreck in NASCAR history.
Talk about another wild, intentional wreck. At Phoenix in 2012, the infamous Gordon-Bowyer run-in happened. After some contact earlier in the year at Martinsville that cost Gordon a potential win, Gordon and Bowyer didn’t forget. Bowyer made contact with Phoenix and put the #24 into the wall, severely hurting his chances that day and sending him multiple laps down. As Gordon limped the #24 around the track for the rest of the race, the opportunity arose for Gordon to get his payback. And he made it count. Gordon hung a left and pile-drove the #15 into the wall and absolutely destroyed both race cars. Gordon made his way to the infield, and the lasting image of that day was Bowyer parking his car, getting out and sprinting full speed to the chaos ensuing near the hauler of the Gordon. Bowyer’s slim championship chances ended that day, but he and Gordon would bury the hatchet a few years later, as they would become partners in the Fox booth.
These were some of our favorite moments caught on live TV over the last 24 years. What do you think? Are there any that we missed that you think should have made the cut? Let us know, and connect with us on our socials at The Daily Downforce.
