NASCAR Video: Fight Erupts After Jeff Gordon Initiates Wreck with Clint Bowyer

The NASCAR Sprint Cup AdvoCare 500 in Phoenix wasn't short on drama on or off the track on Sunday.

All-time great Jeff Gordon purposely initiated a wreck with rival Clint Bowyer at the end of the race, which led to a fight afterward, primarily between the crews of the two drivers.

UPDATE: Monday, November 12 at 5:53 p.m.

An official release by NASCAR hands out a hefty $100K fine to Gordon, and reprimands members of both crews. Bowyer was not fined, but new Sprint Cup points leader Brad Keselowski was docked $25,000 for tweeting from the track. Most notable for Gordon is the points he loses:

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Jeff Gordon was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) -- altercation with another competitor on the race track during the race -- and has been fined $100,000, docked 25 championship driver points and put on probation until Dec. 31. Rick Hendrick, owner of the No. 24 car, also has also been penalized with the loss of 25 championship owner points. Alan Gustafson, crew chief of the No. 24 car, was found to be in violation of Section 9-4A (at all events, crew chief assumes responsibility of his driver, car owner and team members) and has been placed on probation until Dec. 31.

Brian Pattie, crew chief of the No. 15 car, violated Sections 12-1 and 9-4A and has been fined $25,000 and placed on probation until Dec. 31.

Brad Keselowski, driver of the No. 2 car, has been fined $25,000 and placed on probation until Dec. 31 for violating Sections 12-1 and 20-6.7A (cars and drivers will not be permitted to carry onboard computers, automated electronic recording devices, electronically actuated devices, power distribution modules, power conditioners, micro-processors, recording devices, electronic digital memory chips, traction control devices, digital readout gauges and the like, even if inoperable or incomplete). Keselowski had a cell phone in his race car.

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---End of Update---

With seven laps remaining, Bowyer clipped Gordon's left rear tire and the former champ hit the wall. The 24 car was black-flagged, but Gordon did not leave the track. 

Quite the opposite, in fact.

Gordon stayed on the track and waited for Bowyer to come back around. He then turned Bowyer's No. 15 into the wall, taking him out of the race—and wrecking Joey Logano in the process.

Then flat-out mayhem ensued. As Gordon calmly took off his helmet to walk over to the NASCAR hauler, he was blindsided by Bowyer's entire team, thus commencing the crazy sequence:

Things got so nutty that driver Brad Keselowski was tweeting as he coasted when the flag was raised:

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@jim_utter brad tweeting lol twitter.com/dee_hollis/sta…

— Dee Hollis (@dee_hollis) November 11, 2012"

Jeff Gluck, former VP of National Motorsports Press Association, was also on the scene to document the chaos:

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Fans going crazy as Bowyer walks back to track. Gordon just went into NASCAR hauler. twitter.com/jeff_gluck/sta…

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) November 11, 2012

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He made another funny point about what the event could do for the sport's publicity as the dust settled:

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The NASCAR head honchos just walked into the hauler where Bowyer and Gordon are inside. They should high-five them for the publicity.

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) November 11, 2012

 

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Upstart youngster Joey Logano was also involved in the wreck, but he was not involved in the bizarre violence that took place in the aftermath.

Bowyer would have potentially moved into third place before he wrecked. It's especially heartbreaking since Jimmie Johnson, who has a perpetual reign atop the Sprint Cup standings, left him an opening by wrecking himself.

The thrilling race won't be the storyline here, as the uncivil actions and boiling tempers will dominate the headlines after this critical Sprint Cup race in Phoenix.