Kenseth, McMurray engage in closing laps

Also: Kahne angry with McMurray after Lap 59 incident

	Matt Kenseth

BRISTOL, Tenn. - Jamie McMurray's weekend in Bristol started with the confiscation of his primary racecar and ended in a door-banging skirmish with reigning champion Matt Kenseth.

In the middle, a run-in with super rookie Kasey Kahne and a penalty for pitting outside his pit box.

"It was a long, long day," he said.

That doesn't even begin to describe it.

En route to an eighth-place finish in the Food City 500, McMurray traded paint with Kenseth several times, both drivers openly making their disdain for one another known.

The duo had been engaged in a heated battle for several laps, and both admittedly used bump-and-run maneuvers to make passes.

Food City 500  Results  Standings  Video Highlights  Lap by Lap  Photo Gallery

The feud escalated to the point that Kenseth wound up spun out at the entrance to pit road and both drivers were called to the NASCAR trailer for a scolding.

Typically, NASCAR doles out a fine for spinouts on pit road after the race ends. But none was announced Sunday night.

"You can't really get out and punch somebody in our sport. I wanted him to know I was mad," McMurray said. "This place is so easy to get mad. I was just shocked Matt did that. He's really a good racer, but lost his cool today."

Kenseth didn't have much to say about the altercation, other than NASCAR wasn't impressed with the extracurricular activity.

	Jamie McMurray

"They just don't want us to run into each other, obviously," said Kenseth upon exit from the Phone Booth. "(McMurray) just caught me, and when he caught me he moved me out of the way, and when I caught him at the end I moved him out of the way.

"I didn't think he should have moved me out of the way and I probably shouldn't have moved him back out of the way."

McMurray chalked it up to 500 laps of heated competition.

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"I think he's upset that I got into him and got him out of the way. But with 10 laps to go at Bristol, that's what it is," McMurray said. "This place is famous for the bump and run."

According to Ganassi Racing team manager Andy Graves, Kenseth had made forceful contact with Sterling Marlin earlier in the race.

VIDEO CLIPS Victory Lane Play video Kenseth, McMurray tangle late in the event Play video Earnhardt Jr. spins on Lap 430 Play video Wimmer, Stewart penalized on Lap 200 Play video Burton, Labonte, Harvick involved in crash on Lap 101 Play video Kahne upset about wreck on Lap 59 Play video

"From where we were watching it, Matt got into Sterling earlier and almost turned him around," Graves said. "Then 15, 20 laps later Jamie nudged him and got off him, not to wreck him, then drove by him and I guess Matt's pretty mad about it.

"Matt comes across as the sweet, innocent type, but he's a lot dirtier driver than everybody thinks."

"When we had the (red flag) break there, Andy (Graves) came on, said don't do anything stupid, we have two cars in the top-five," McMurray said. "But Matt hit me two or three times there.

"Going into Turn 1 when we took the green ... I don't know. He's not typically like that. I got into him a little bit, got him out of the way to get by him. That's the way you pass here. I'm shocked Matt acted that way."

Regardless, for McMurray to finish eighth is rather impressive considering the weekend he endured.

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"I screwed up and didn't pit once and went from fourth to 28th, and just fought all day to try to keep up with the racetrack," McMurray said. "Didn't do a real good job of it but still had a top five car at the end.

"Matt's not that kind of guy. Just unfortunate he lost his cool today. This place will get the best of you. Someone asked me before what's it take to stay cool here. Apparently I don't know."