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Crews face off after Hamlin-Keselowski contact under caution

By Jared Turner – SceneDaily Staff Writer

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Article Rating: 2.0
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Dale Barbee / NASCAR Scene

Crew members for Denny Hamlin's No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing team and Brad Keselowski's No. 88 JR Motorsports team spar on pit road after the Carquest Auto Parts 300.

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CONCORD, N.C. – Saturday night’s Carquest Auto Parts 300 postrace news conference at Lowe’s Motor Speedway bore a closer resemblance to a made-for-TV court hearing.

There was accusing and defending and disagreeing. There were tough questions and short answers and discourse seemingly more fitting for an episode of Judge Judy than a track media center. There were chide remarks and harsh words.

And there were two drivers - Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski - doing most of the talking after their Nationwide Series crews engaged in a pushing and shoving match minutes earlier as Hamlin was getting out of his car on pit road.

As they sat behind the same table with a chair between them acting almost as a buffer, the fact that Hamlin and Keselowski finished second and third, respectively, in the event won by Kyle Busch, was overshadowed by the road that led there.

"There's situations where, give a guy two inches to let him clear and don't hang on his right-rear quarter panel because [drivers] get frustrated then they get pissed off and they're going to race you hard," Joe Gibbs Racing's Hamlin said. "I said at the end of that race: I want to do whatever it takes to make that 88's [Keselowski] job the hardest to get around me.  I'll block to let the 32 [Busch] win if I have to because of the way he raced me earlier in the race."

Keselowski, who is in his first full season with JR Motorsports, didn’t exactly roll over against his more experienced competitor who drives part time in the Nationwide Series and full time in the Sprint Cup Series. Instead, Keselowski intentionally rammed his Chevrolet into Hamlin late in the race. Then, moments later, Hamlin veered his Toyota up the track into the left front corner of Keselowski. Before it was all over, Keselowski’s normally mild-mannered car owner, Dale Earnhardt Jr., gave Hamlin a bump of his own.

Under normal circumstances, such aggression might be chalked up to hard racing in the heat of battle. Only in this instance, the entire sequence of events occurred under caution.

“I don’t know,” said Keselowski, when asked in the media center why he drove into Hamlin under the yellow. “He’s here. Ask him.”

Someone did.

“Ask him first,” Hamlin retorted. “I retaliated. I didn’t retaliate based on what happened earlier in the race.”

And the drivers weren’t the only ones feuding. Members of their crews had to be separated by NASCAR officials on pit road moments after the checkered flag waved as they traded words and at the very least rough shoving. NASCAR is still reviewing videotape of the scrum to determine if any punches were thrown and if suspensions are necessary.

From Earnhardt Jr.’s perspective, Hamlin was the primary aggressor in the chain of events.

“I saw Brad hit him a little bit under caution and then Denny knocked the fender off his car,” said Earnhardt Jr., who placed fourth in the race. “I’m not happy about that. I was happy with the finish but there was no excuse for Denny to tear up his fender like that.”

Nor was Hamlin happy about the perceived aggressive driving of Keselowski.

“You throw a rock, I’m going to throw a concrete block back,” he said. “You’re going to have to deal with it.”

For Keselowski’s part, he expressed no regrets about racing Hamlin as hard as he did, even if it meant pushing the limits.

“I race one day a week,” he said. “I don’t race twice a week. I’ve got one day a week to prove myself. I have 200 laps, not 400. I have to take every opportunity I have to prove myself.”

Average Rating: 2.0

Comments

26 responses to "Crews face off after Hamlin-Keselowski contact under caution"
  1. 1
    Dan Williams said:
    May 25, 2008 at 6:10 AM

    This is yet another case of irresponsible journalism. The body of this article would have one believe the quotes came from the post race press conference, when they were actually taken from the TV broadcast. There's not necessarily anything wrong with grabbing quotes from any source possible, but be truthful when presenting them.

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  2. 2
    Anonymous said:
    May 25, 2008 at 6:17 AM

    Just something for jr nation 2 whine about and boo another gibbs driver since they (denny and kyle)dont kiss dale jr's but.

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  3. 3
    sherry smith said:
    May 25, 2008 at 6:18 AM

    First of all Denny needs to think back where he came from before he states anything about being able to race with the Cup Drivers. He too once was the rookie that nobody wanted to help or respect. Respect is earned and not given to you because of your name or who you drive for...

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  4. 4
    Ross Dunakin said:
    May 25, 2008 at 7:43 AM

    Their is an old saying, "don't forget where you came from" I can understand Hamlin getting his temper up during the heat of the battle but it wasn't that long ago that Denny and family would give anything just to get their collective feet in the door at NASCAR....Denny proved himself worthy but last nights display showed pure arrogance and negligence on his part!! Give the rookie a break, he's still learnin'!

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  5. 5
    grandamgt Russell said:
    May 25, 2008 at 8:34 AM

    Hamlin accused Brad of being impatient and he hasn't had any Cup experience. DUH!!! Aren't you supposed to learn in the Nationwide Series first and then move up to Cup. If Hamlin can't take it then stop running in the Junior Nascar League Series. His family about bankrupted themselves getting Hamlin to race. He's such a baby when he is being outrun. Look at his behavior at Richmond, running away with the race and gets a flat tire, well, "I'll just pout my way around the track and bring out a caution" instead of doing the adult thing and come down to his pits. He's just another pathetic excuse for a driver that thinks he is all that and he ain't!

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  6. 6
    Wayne Powers said:
    May 25, 2008 at 8:35 AM

    when someone has a faster car than you do, do the right think, get out of his way. Hamlin doesn't have respect for anyone,why should he, because its the right thing to do. Keselowski is a rookie and is proving himself very well, he could have passed hamlin and maybe gave Busch a run for his money, but, no, hamlin being around kyle this season is getting to be just like him. as far as dale jr. fans whining,come on give us a break, noone whines more than the younger gibbs drivers. we have a great sport there, but someone is running it into the ground and loosing fans right and left. build a boxing rink and let the drivers go at it if they have a problem with each other, but leave everyone outside, expecially the media. Thanks, a jr fan and his family

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  7. 7
    Chrissie Bennett said:
    May 25, 2008 at 9:46 AM

    Denny Hamlin is becoming another Kyle Bush.

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  8. 8
    Deb Evanson said:
    May 25, 2008 at 10:07 AM

    Hamlin and Busch are two of a kind. They whine when another driver races them hard when they are guilty of doing the exact same thing. I guess they're the only ones allowed to do certain things. Smoke would be better off leaving JGR. Enough of listening to the children. Go race with a man's team.

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  9. 9
    shirley smith said:
    May 25, 2008 at 11:58 AM

    I think it's about time for Nascar have a talk with K.Bush and D. Hammlin. I watched the truck race Sat. Bodine was called on for ruff drivingand others and they were just racing hard and also it was a short track, I guess it makes a difference who you are. Dale Jr. was robbed at Richmond every one see's that BUT did you do any thing to K.Bush for hitting Jr. NO!!!! If any one needs to be out of the race it was Kyle Bush. after all he say's he will wreck any one to win, and Hamlin say's he will throw blocks.

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  10. 10
    Richard Gabovitz said:
    May 25, 2008 at 12:24 PM

    Hamlin forgets where he came from. He's only 3 years into Cup, what gives him the right to act like a seasoned veteran. These young punks now a days get into great rides without paying their dues. Just spoiled brats. They forget real quick where they came from. Look at the owner!!! Great Role Model, of course, look what Gibbs did to the Redskins, just when the team, the players needed him the most in view of the Sean Taylor tragedy, HE QUIT, TRAITOR. Where's was the team philosophy then. He used a poor escuse of leaving, WE ALL NEED OUR FAMILIES THE MOST.

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  11. 11
    Richard Gabovitz said:
    May 25, 2008 at 12:27 PM

    What happened to the days when if you wanted my position, then take it, if you can. Racing is supposed to be racing, don't give an inch when the end of the race in near. Whose the whiner, certainly not Brad. I'll throw a concrete block back, INDEED. Where's Jimmy Spencer when you need him.

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  12. 12
    said:
    May 25, 2008 at 12:28 PM

    It is great how Jr. fans forget how he spun out at Bristol and was stupid enough to say he caused a yellow on purpose. So when you talk about Hamlin at Richmond, get over it. Hamlin is an @ hole, Busch is an @ hole. How about this? You worry about your guy actually winning a race for the first time in two years without everything falling apart around him.

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  13. 13
    Kathy Gietzen said:
    May 25, 2008 at 12:32 PM

    It seems that more and more of the Cup drivers who drive in the Nationwide Series expect the Nationwide drivers to roll over and let them by because they are cup drivers. Hamlin provided one more example of this last night. EVERYONE in the race wants to win and that often means "racing hard" to do it. How many times have we seen Hamlin do the same thing.

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  14. 14
    Francine D'Alonzo said:
    May 25, 2008 at 1:22 PM

    When Jr intentionally caused a caution - he said he did, not stupidity...just a decent human being. Hamlin does not deserve respect....he never admits his wrong doing. It was his choice to endanger everyone else and park on the track, his decision. If he can't handle being "raced" in Nationwide series, why is he on the track?? His spoiled brat mentality is ruining NASCAR.

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  15. 15
    Francine D'Alonzo said:
    May 25, 2008 at 1:23 PM

    When Jr intentionally caused a caution - he said he did, not stupidity...just a decent human being. Hamlin does not deserve respect....he never admits his wrong doing. It was his choice to endanger everyone else and park on the track, his decision. If he can't handle being "raced" in Nationwide series, why is he on the track?? His spoiled brat mentality is ruining NASCAR.

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  16. 16
    Valeri Leist said:
    May 25, 2008 at 1:41 PM

    I have news for Denny Hamlin-it is called racing! Joe Gibbs racers think they can bump, rub and generally knock people out of the way when it suits them. But God forbid someone should race them hard! Someone needs to knock him and Kyle Busch down a few pegs to get their attention. Racing like THUGS is not cool! Who would have thought Tony Stewart is the calm one of the bunch! Maybe they should rename Joe Gibbs Racing-THUGS RACING!

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  17. 17
    Anonymous said:
    May 25, 2008 at 2:19 PM

    Denny Hamlin needs to be confronted off the track and have his butt whipped

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  18. 18
    emily bagwell said:
    May 25, 2008 at 3:14 PM

    Valeri, You said it for me---where has Tony Stewart gone---maybe he is leaving Joe Gibbs for a reason---and as far as I"m concerned, a good one. It's bad enough that the Gibbs' twins think they own the Sprint series, but they need to get their A-holes out of Nationwide and let the young drivers have a chance. Of course, if NASCAR thinks they can pull in a fan and make a buck, then to H@@L with everyone else.

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  19. 19
    Terry Duling said:
    May 25, 2008 at 3:34 PM

    So it's okay for one supposedly major leaguer to assist another supposedly major leaguer to beat a minor leaguer in a minor league event? Oh yeah, that's great for the our sport. Wonder why the real Major Leagues don't allow their players/teams to dominate and ruin their respective minor leagues?

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  20. 20
    Chrissie Bennett said:
    May 25, 2008 at 9:27 PM

    Why is it the one's that have something to say against Dale don't put their names? I had to laugh my butt off when Dale went up and bumped Denny Hamlin after he intentionally ran into Brad. So it's been a little while since Dale has won, for who ever brought up that Dale hasn't won in two years. First of all this article WAS NOT about Dale so why are you attacking him? The article was about Brad and Hamlin. Yes I realize that Brad works for Dale but neither Brad or Dale did anything wrong.

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  21. 21
    jamie ingram said:
    May 25, 2008 at 10:10 PM

    kyle and denny both suck gibbs needs 2fire them both

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  22. 22
    jamie ingram said:
    May 25, 2008 at 10:13 PM

    junior did what nobody else would do stood up 2thoseaholes

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  23. 23
    Mike Parks said:
    May 26, 2008 at 4:49 AM

    Man listen to all these whiny Jr Fans. Imagine if they had to deal with Jr's Daddy, they'd be whining about him too. All three JGR drivers are more like Sr than Little E is. This isn't a knock on Jr, he's his own person but even he must be somewhat embarrassed by weekly whinings of his nation of fans.

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  24. 24
    Deb Evanson said:
    May 26, 2008 at 11:24 AM

    Calling a spade a spade is whining???

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  25. 25
    Kris Leonia said:
    May 27, 2008 at 7:18 AM

    Hamlin needs a reality check. Seriously, where is Jimmy S when you need him! His post race interview affirmed that he thinks he's the best out there and "Don't you dare race me hard, I'm the golden boy!" attitude needs to go. Its called RACING!! With less than 10 laps to go I'd expect nothing but side by side racing and beatin' and banging on bumpers and fenders. But that was ridiculous on Hamlin's part. Brad expressed his anger by giving Hamlin a little bump under caution... no big deal.. the Cup guys do it also and everyone keeps their cool and the race goes on. If he doesn't like guys racing him hard with 10 laps to go trying to win.... he's in the wrong sport. Yes I am Jr Fan and I was happy they both got Top 5 finishes. It was good runs for the team and Brads been running very well this year.

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  26. 26
    Meg Racer said:
    May 27, 2008 at 8:43 AM

    Brad had every right to challenge Denny and try to regain a spot. Someone needs to remind Dirty Denny that it's a series for the younger drivers. How are they going to gain the experience of victory lane celebrations and pit lane interviews when the cup guys monopolize and control the Nationwide series ??? Too bad NASCAR doesn’t have the guts to limit full time cup drivers to two races per year in that series.

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