The Daytona 500 can get very intense. This is high-speed racing, with as many as four cars going wide, racing for glory. Often, there is a “Big One” and it happens many times on the final lap.
With emotions running high, fights can happen, and heated arguments are more common on pit road. These are some of the more emotional altercations at Daytona International Speedway.
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Cale Yarborough vs. Bobby and Donnie Allison (1979)
This is often considered the most legendary fight in NASCAR history. After a tense race and a final lap wreck by Yarborough, the two men got close. Allison stated Yarborough had come, looking for a fight in a fit of rage. He then nailed Allison on the nose with his helmet, and the two went at it.
In the historic image of the altercation, we see Bobby Allison’s brother, Donnie, trying to get behind Yarborough. Richard Petty, the eventual race winner, called it “the best thing to happen to racing.”
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A good fight always fuels a fire and media attention. Any marketing is good marketing, at least in a reasonable sense.
Matt Kenseth vs. Tony Stewart (2006)
NASCAR driver Tony Stewart (20) crashes with Matt Kenseth (17) at Lowes Motor Speedway.©Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
(©Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)
Admittedly, fights have not happened as often as one may think at Daytona. They happen very often throughout the season, but NASCAR has spread itself thin with the Daytona 500 fights. Nonetheless, Kenseth and Stewart had their own issues back in 2006.
In a very reckless move by Stewart, he would move Kenseth down into the infield of the tri-oval. This sent Kenseth out of control, spinning and coming up to nail the wall. Luckily, he hit no other cars, but Kenseth’s day was done. No fight ever ensued, and Stewart kept on racing, but many would say that Stewart deserved more disgust post-race.
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Joey Logano vs. Brad Keselowski (2021)
Likewise, this never reached a full-on fight. However, it may have been deserved. On the final lap of the 2021 Daytona 500, these teammates came to bumpers as Keselowski made a quick surge up the back stretch. Keselowski contacted Logano and sent both spinning. Michael McDowell went on to win the race as the unexpected beneficiary.
It was said that Logano and Keselowski went a very long time without speaking to each other. This would end less tense than it could have, and Keselowski would leave Team Penske to become a co-owner of Roush-Fenway-Keselowski Racing.
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Honorable Non-Daytona Mention: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. vs. Kyle Busch
It was not at Daytona, but we cannot let this fight go unmarked. In 2024, Stenhouse Jr. entered his own fit of rage. After wrecking out of the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro, Stenhouse Jr. put on street clothes and waited for the race to end.
Following the race, Stenhouse Jr. approached Busch by his hauler and took a swipe. The video later went viral online.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Feb 10, 2026, where it first appeared in the Racing section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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