Skip navigation
Site powered by
Latest news:
msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines: Mickelson a marvel at Pebble Beach, while Tiger tumbles

Edwards, Kenseth clash on and off track

Confrontation following Sunday's race was caught on camera

LifeLock 400 PracticeGetty Images
Matt Kenseth, driver of the No. 17 DeWalt Ford, and Carl Edwards were caught on camera in a nasty confrontation following Sunday's race at Martinsville Speedway.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - What happens on the track between Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson stays there, as the teammates have mastered the balance between competition and friendship.

The same can't be said for Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards, who were caught on camera in a nasty confrontation following Sunday's race at Martinsville Speedway.

Kenseth was about to be interviewed when Edwards, his teammate at Roush Fenway Racing, grabbed him and firmly pushed him down pit road. In videos posted on YouTube, the two are seen arguing before Edwards climbs over the pit wall. Before walking away, Edwards raised a fist as if to strike Kenseth, who noticeably flinched.

A Roush Fenway spokesman said Monday the team had no immediate comment on the incident, and president Geoff Smith was out of the office and unavailable.

Apparently, there's some serious animosity between Edwards and Kenseth, who first publicly criticized each other following a Busch Series race in Kansas last month.

It started when Kenseth appeared to cut Edwards off midway through that race, and the contact caused Edwards to cut a tire. Edwards later wrecked - not because of Kenseth - but blamed him for it by clapping his hands and giving a thumbs-up at Kenseth as he passed by him on the track.

"The reason I was mad, someone like a teammate would race me like that,'' Edwards said. "He may or may not have done it on purpose. He's my teammate and we've really got a good relationship, so I hope we can get by this.''

Kenseth went on to finish second, and was perplexed by Edwards' anger.

"I don't really feel like I did anything wrong,'' he said. "My job's not to get out of his way all of the time. We're supposed to race each other like we always race each other, and race each other with respect.''

Slideshow
Image: Snee, 8, son of New York Giants player Chris Snee and head coach Coughlin's grandson plays in the confetti after the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots in the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game in Indianapolis
  The Week in Sports Pictures
The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more.

more photos

Kenseth didn't stop before taking a slight jab at Edwards, who is running away with the Busch Series driver championship but only has the car ranked third in owner points behind entries fielded by Richard Childress Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing and piloted by multiple drivers.

"If I was getting beat for the owner's championship by a couple of guys running part-time ... it's probably got him a little worked up,'' Kenseth said.

If the two ever made up, it wasn't apparent after Sunday's Nextel Cup event.

It's not exactly clear what they were even arguing about, but it likely stemmed from a mid-race restart when Reed Sorenson's car failed to take off at the green flag. It caused the traffic behind Sorenson to stack up, and Kenseth and Edwards became entangled as they tried to weave around Sorenson.

They banged doors in Turn 1, and had heavier contact in Turn 3 that caused Edwards to lose track position. His anger apparently festered for the rest of the race, and when he spotted Kenseth starting a television interview, he was aggressive in interrupting to make a point.

It was a stark contrast from the harmony in the Hendrick Motorsports camp, which had just witnessed another duel between championship contenders Johnson and Gordon.


advertisement
Slideshow
Kobalt Tools 500
  Earning a trip to victory lane
Take a look at every NASCAR driver who has claimed a checkered flag this racing season.

NBCSports.com

Slideshow
SUBWAY Fresh Fit 600
  Revved up for racing
Take a look at how some NASCAR fans express their dedication to the drivers and to the sport.

NBCSports.com

Slideshow
Danica Patrick,  Helio Castroneves
  Danica Daze
Danica Patrick is expanding her repertoire from the IRL to NASCAR.

more photos

Slideshow
Coca-Cola 600
  Celebs at the track
Take a look at the stars who have attended NASCAR races.

NBCSports.com

Slideshow
Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin, Brian Vickers
  NASCAR crashes
Sparks fly and cars spin out wildly when NASCAR drivers get into accidents.

NBCSports.com

INTERACTIVE
"Taxi" Film Premiere
NASCAR wives and girlfriends
They're fixtures in pit row, but they don't drive on the track or work on the cars. Take a look at some notable NASCAR wives and girlfriends.