PAYBACK TIME: Now that retaliation only means probation, which drivers have scores to settle?

By Jeff Owens

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Kevin Harvick (left) and Carl Edwards scuffle in the garage area at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2008.

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When Carl Edwards got only a three-race probation for intentionally wrecking Brad Keselowski at Atlanta Motor Speedway last week, NASCAR sent a message to its drivers that paybacks are indeed acceptable.

Or at least not serious enough to warrant severe penalties.

So now, paybacks, or even outright retaliation, might be in vogue again, allowing drivers to take out their frustration and anger on rivals who have pushed them too far.

With that in mind, here are seven pairings that might have a score to settle between themselves:

1. Brad Keselowski vs. Carl Edwards

So does Keselowski try to get even now for taking the ride of his life at Atlanta?

He was clearly not happy with Edwards for wrecking him on purpose, calling the incident “uncalled for.”

“It is one thing to race somebody hard and to get in an accident going for position,” he said. “It’s another to intentionally wreck somebody at 190 miles an hour.”

The question now is: Does Keselowski back off from his aggressive approach on the track and attempt to show more respect toward other drivers, or does he continue his win-at-all-costs attitude, which his gotten him into trouble with more than one driver?

Keselowski seems determined to race hard, be aggressive and use his bumper if he has to. Don’t be surprised if he exacts a bit of revenge somewhere along the way.

2. Keselowski vs. Denny Hamlin

Speaking of Keselowski and scores to settle, he also has one pending with Hamlin, who intentionally wrecked him in the Nationwide Series race at Homestead last year.

Hamlin, angry over several run-ins on the track, not only wrecked Keselowski, but he vowed to do it and then boasted about it afterward. The only thing worse than getting wrecked on purpose is having the offender rub it in for good measure.

Keselowski was not only angry over being wrecked but had to be a bit humiliated by the public ridicule by Hamlin. And a driver with his moxy probably has a long memory.

3. Kevin Harvick vs. Carl Edwards

Like Keselowski, it’s not a surprise that Edwards keeps showing up on these lists. Typically a nice guy, Edwards has a bit of a temper and he’s had more than a few run-ins with other drivers.

One of the ugliest was his confrontation with Harvick in the Charlotte Motor Speedway garage two years ago.

After Edwards caused a big wreck at Talladega, Harvick ripped him on TV, prompting Edwards to leave him a sarcastic note, which Harvick then leaked to the media.

Edwards confronted Harvick about it in the Charlotte garage, which led to a scuffle and Edwards grabbing Harvick by the throat.

Harvick, who has been in his share of driver feuds over the years, must cringe every time he sees the infamous photo of Edwards putting him in a chokehold.

Harvick would like nothing better than to enact a bit of revenge on the track.

4. Dale Earnhardt Jr. vs. Kyle Busch

This is a rivalry fans would love to see more than any other, especially Junior Nation.

Two years ago at Richmond, Earnhardt Jr. was on his way to what would have been his first victory at Hendrick Motorsports when Busch got into the side of him and sent Earnhardt for a spin, costing him a shot at the win.

Though it was unintentional, Earnhardt Jr.’s fans went ballistic and let Busch know their displeasure. A year later, Busch took a jab at them, calling Junior’s fans “crazy.”

But wait, there’s more. There is also a bit of a natural rivalry here, or at least the makings of one.

When team owner Rick Hendrick decided not to re-sign Busch, Earnhardt Jr. is the driver who replaced him, a fact that still doesn’t sit well with Busch.

Earnhardt Jr. typically is not the type of driver to use his bumper, especially in retaliation, but he owes Busch for costing him the win at Richmond, and his fans would love to see him get even.

5. Kyle Busch vs. Carl Edwards

Busch owes Edwards for a similar incident at Bristol a year later.

Busch appeared to be on his way to the win in the August night race until Edwards bumped him out of his way with two laps remaining.

Busch didn’t like it, ripping Edwards after the race and calling him “Mr. Ed.”

Busch can’t stand to lose and likely hasn’t forgotten the Bristol incident.

Once these two rebound from their recent struggles, don’t be surprised if they lock horns again.

6. Kurt Busch vs. Tony Stewart

These two fiery competitors have been at it for years. They tangled in practice at Daytona two years ago, leading to a confrontation in the NASCAR hauler.

Busch made fun of Stewart’s weight and Stewart, according to Busch, threw a punch. Busch then made light of the incident on a Las Vegas radio station, saying, “We went toe to toe, because I told him he has a large waistline.”

They had a run-in the previous year at Dover, when Busch almost ran over a Stewart crewman while trying to hit Stewart’s car on pit road.

Clearly, there is no love lost between these two and some hard feelings over a series of ugly incidents.

Both have faced stiff penalties for run-ins in the past. Now they have a license to settle their dispute on the track.

7. Juan Pablo Montoya vs. Jamie McMurray

Could two teammates really go at it?

With Montoya involved, it is certainly possible. He retaliated against good friend Tony Stewart last year when the two ran into each other at Homestead.

Now, Montoya has issues with McMurray, his new Earnhardt Ganassi teammate.

McMurray got into Montoya at Las Vegas last month, causing them both to wreck.

Montoya was furious, saying, “Jamie plain and simple just wrecked us.

“Every time I am around him, he wants to run the [crap] out of me. … He is just trying to prove to people he can drive a race car and I guess he isn’t doing too many favors on this team,” Montoya said.

It wasn’t the first time these two have tangled. Montoya wrecked McMurray at Bristol last year, an incident McMurray reminded everyone of when he joined the team this season.

“He dumped me,” McMurray said. “We were pretty good friends until Bristol.”

Publicly, the two teammates say the incidents are behind them, and team owner Chip Ganassi will do what he can to prevent further trouble.

But Montoya is not one to let things lie. Will he get even with his teammates somewhere along the way?