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NASCAR’s active All-Menace Team
By Chase Wilhelm | Thursday, February 6, 2020
Matt Sullivan | Getty Images
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Every sport has athletes who don the proverbial black hat. These drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series have earned their notorious reputations in the sport, never shying away from confrontation both on and off the track, never afraid to ruffle a few feathers in the heat of the moment. Take a look at the six most prominent competitors who've earned a spot on our All-Menace team.
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Driver: Bubba Wallace
Team: Richard Petty Motorsports
Rabble-rouser resumé: Wallace has found himself in the middle of a few dustups over the past couple years. In 2018, a career-high second-place finish in the Daytona 500 was earned after making contact with Denny Hamlin heading toward the finish line. The incident led to a heated discussion between the two of them in the garage. In 2019 at Watkins Glen International, Wallace’s frustrations with Hamlin's Joe Gibbs Racing teammate in Kyle Busch boiled over, resulting in Wallace punting Busch out of the way. Later that year at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval, an on-track incident with Alex Bowman ended with Wallace splashing Bowman with water on pit road after the race. Bubba’s not scared to push back when emotions run high.
Team: Richard Petty Motorsports
Rabble-rouser resumé: Wallace has found himself in the middle of a few dustups over the past couple years. In 2018, a career-high second-place finish in the Daytona 500 was earned after making contact with Denny Hamlin heading toward the finish line. The incident led to a heated discussion between the two of them in the garage. In 2019 at Watkins Glen International, Wallace’s frustrations with Hamlin's Joe Gibbs Racing teammate in Kyle Busch boiled over, resulting in Wallace punting Busch out of the way. Later that year at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval, an on-track incident with Alex Bowman ended with Wallace splashing Bowman with water on pit road after the race. Bubba’s not scared to push back when emotions run high.
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Driver: Ryan Newman
Team: Roush Fenway Racing
Rabble-rouser resumé: Given he's notoriously -- even infamously -- hard to pass on the race track, Newman is bound to have an argument or two with competitors. The longtime veteran's fierce driving style has upset drivers over the years, but Newman also stands up for his never-give-an-inch approach. Scuffles with Jimmie Johnson, Joey Logano, Tony Stewart -- and most recently Clint Bowyer and Daniel Suarez – are proof he’s not afraid to wear the black hat.
Team: Roush Fenway Racing
Rabble-rouser resumé: Given he's notoriously -- even infamously -- hard to pass on the race track, Newman is bound to have an argument or two with competitors. The longtime veteran's fierce driving style has upset drivers over the years, but Newman also stands up for his never-give-an-inch approach. Scuffles with Jimmie Johnson, Joey Logano, Tony Stewart -- and most recently Clint Bowyer and Daniel Suarez – are proof he’s not afraid to wear the black hat.
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Driver: Daniel Suarez
Team: Gaunt Brothers Racing
Rabble-rouser resumé: We didn’t really get a true taste of just how fiery Suarez can be until his run-in with Michael McDowell at Phoenix Raceway in 2019. Suarez appeared to just want to chat, but when McDowell made the first move, Suarez had no problem giving it right back, throwing McDowell to the ground before he was pulled away. We’ve also learned Suarez doesn’t like to be given the middle finger, either, something Bubba Wallace found out at Pocono Raceway last year that led to a heated confrontation on pit road. If you’re going to mess with Suarez, you better be ready for it.
Team: Gaunt Brothers Racing
Rabble-rouser resumé: We didn’t really get a true taste of just how fiery Suarez can be until his run-in with Michael McDowell at Phoenix Raceway in 2019. Suarez appeared to just want to chat, but when McDowell made the first move, Suarez had no problem giving it right back, throwing McDowell to the ground before he was pulled away. We’ve also learned Suarez doesn’t like to be given the middle finger, either, something Bubba Wallace found out at Pocono Raceway last year that led to a heated confrontation on pit road. If you’re going to mess with Suarez, you better be ready for it.
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Driver: Denny Hamlin
Team: Joe Gibbs Racing
Rabble-rouser resumé: The bulk of Hamlin’s major snafus have been with Joey Logano over the years, including last fall at Martinsville Speedway when Hamlin was ready to fight Logano for pushing him on pit road following a not so friendly discussion about an on-track incident. Perhaps the most memorable run-in was with Chase Elliott in 2017, also at Martinsville. Hamlin sent Elliott into the outside wall trying to get the lead late in the race, which resulted in an angry post-race chat between them on the backstretch during the cool-down lap. Maybe it’s just something about Hamlin’s home track that gets him fired up, but we’re here for him delivering the drama.
Team: Joe Gibbs Racing
Rabble-rouser resumé: The bulk of Hamlin’s major snafus have been with Joey Logano over the years, including last fall at Martinsville Speedway when Hamlin was ready to fight Logano for pushing him on pit road following a not so friendly discussion about an on-track incident. Perhaps the most memorable run-in was with Chase Elliott in 2017, also at Martinsville. Hamlin sent Elliott into the outside wall trying to get the lead late in the race, which resulted in an angry post-race chat between them on the backstretch during the cool-down lap. Maybe it’s just something about Hamlin’s home track that gets him fired up, but we’re here for him delivering the drama.
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Driver: Joey Logano
Team: Team Penske
Rabble-rouser resumé: Do you know what Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Ryan Newman and Tony Stewart all have in common? If you guessed a beef with Joey Logano over the years, you would be correct. Despite his charismatic persona in front of the camera, Logano's fire and aggression behind the wheel has left fellow competitors mad as hell at the No. 22 driver following fierce battles on track. Logano isn’t afraid to take the first shot, either. A prime example of that was last fall at Martinsville when Logano went up to Hamlin on pit road, tried to talk it out, didn’t like the answer he was given and gave Hamlin a shove before a scrap ensued under the lights.
Team: Team Penske
Rabble-rouser resumé: Do you know what Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Ryan Newman and Tony Stewart all have in common? If you guessed a beef with Joey Logano over the years, you would be correct. Despite his charismatic persona in front of the camera, Logano's fire and aggression behind the wheel has left fellow competitors mad as hell at the No. 22 driver following fierce battles on track. Logano isn’t afraid to take the first shot, either. A prime example of that was last fall at Martinsville when Logano went up to Hamlin on pit road, tried to talk it out, didn’t like the answer he was given and gave Hamlin a shove before a scrap ensued under the lights.
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Driver: Kyle Busch
Team: Joe Gibbs Racing
Rabble-rouser resumé: I don’t know about you, but the first name that comes to mind when you mention “menace” is Kyle Busch … and that’s a role he’s obviously just fine with playing. Arguably the most talented driver in the garage isn't shy to display his hatred for losing over his love for winning with his ultra-aggressive approach – both inside the car and in television interviews. Some drivers have taken exception to that attitude, especially Penske drivers Logano and longtime rival Brad Keselowski. Busch isn’t even afraid to throw shade at his own teammates -- or even his brother Kurt for that matter -- from time to time. Busch embraces the black hat and wins while doing it.
Team: Joe Gibbs Racing
Rabble-rouser resumé: I don’t know about you, but the first name that comes to mind when you mention “menace” is Kyle Busch … and that’s a role he’s obviously just fine with playing. Arguably the most talented driver in the garage isn't shy to display his hatred for losing over his love for winning with his ultra-aggressive approach – both inside the car and in television interviews. Some drivers have taken exception to that attitude, especially Penske drivers Logano and longtime rival Brad Keselowski. Busch isn’t even afraid to throw shade at his own teammates -- or even his brother Kurt for that matter -- from time to time. Busch embraces the black hat and wins while doing it.
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