Fireworks fly between Earnhardt Jr., R. Gordon

BRISTOL, Tenn. -- For the second consecutive year, flaring tempers during the post-race cool down laps at Bristol Motor Speedway resulted in a spun out car on pit road.

As the race wound down, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Robby Gordon -- a lapped car -- engaged in a heated battle, which ended when Gordon spun Earnhardt Jr. around on the pit lane.

A similar instance happened in this same event last season, when Tony Stewart spun out Jeff Gordon on pit road after he felt Gordon wrecked him in the race’s final moments.

Junior was the race leader on lap 409 when the caution flew.

He pitted, complaining of a bad set of tires. After restarting 10th, Junior made up six positions lost on the stop before reaching Gordon. Unable to pass Gordon, he was unable to ascend any higher than fourth in the final rundown.

Miffed, he tapped Gordon after the checkered flag. Gordon, who said Junior had turned him sideways earlier in the event, retaliated on pit road, spinning Junior’s Chevrolet around.

“Damn (Gordon) racing the leaders with about 10 to go, that's why it takes three or four times for him to get into the Winston Cup Series, cause he don't pay attention and he don't know what he's doing,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “He was a moving chicane the whole race, he wouldn't move.”

Gordon disagreed.

“I think he was the moving chicane,” Gordon said. “The only reason he finished there is ‘cause he moved everybody outta the way. After the race, he ran in the side of me, so I hit him back.”

Both Earnhardt Jr. and Gordon were summoned to the NASCAR trailer following the altercation. Former NASCAR Winston Cup Series director Gary Nelson said Gordon would likely receive a penalty similar to Stewart’s a year ago, which entailed a $10,000 fine and probation through August.