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In the world of stock car racing, rivalries are a part of the sport from years gone by. You have Richard Petty vs. David Pearson, Cale Yarborough vs. Donnie Allison, Darrell Waltrip vs. Dale Earnhardt, among many others.
Now, you can add another rivalry to that list, Brad Keselowski vs. Denny Hamlin.
This feud has gone through many chapters, and today's Nationwide race in Phoenix added one more.
Late in the race, following a restart, Hamlin gets into Keselowski in turn one, pushing him up the track. Coming out of the dogleg, Keselowski lifts the rear of his car up.
Then, right in the middle of turns three and four, the knockout shot as Hamlin spins out right in front of the field. A flat tire and a pit stop later, Hamlin was back out on track and making up positions.
Keselowski went on to finish fifth, while Hamlin made up spots to finish 12th.
Afterwards, the question of whether Hamlin would seek revenge was on everyone's mind. Even some drivers were expecting some kind of retribution.
"I got out of my car as quick as I could, I thought we would see some action," said second-place Kevin Harvick.
Unfortunately, Hamlin simply drove past his car to his pit stall, and exited his car.
But, walking back to the garage, he made it clear what his intentions would be in one week's time.
"I'm just happy I signed up for next week's Nationwide race. There's a lot of guys that owe him. There's a lot of guys that have a lot of chips that they're going to cash in," Hamlin said to ESPN.
"I'm just going to be the first at the pay window."
The line that struck a chord with every broadcaster at Phoenix came after he was asked if NASCAR needed to get involved.
"Nah, I'll take care of him. I've got it," he said.
As much as Keselowski tried to downplay the incident, he must know that he is out to get him.
Keselowski has admitted he has been driving more aggressive, as was most notable at Memphis earlier this year.
He caused at least two spin-outs, and was involved with at least two others, including one run-in with Carl Edwards late, which had Edwards a bit irked.
"If that's how he's going to race, then that's how we're gonna race," Edwards said afterwards.
On the other end of the incidents, Keselowski said that the contact throughout the day actually slowed his car down.
"I was aggressive and put myself in a lot of those situations that led to contact. It's not like I came out on top with that," he said.
Truthfully, he did come out on top. Keselowski was the one in victory lane.
Look back at the Sprint Cup race two weeks ago at Talladega. The last incident of the race begun when Keselowski got into the back of Kurt Busch. What ensued was a multi-car wreck with Mark Martin on his roof and many good cars destroyed.
To say Keselowski is a marked man would be an understatement. Hamlin may be going for a win, but he will also be going for payback.
The fans at Homestead-Miami Speedway may be paying to see a race, but what they could end up getting is a fight.
To coin a phrase from UFC referee "Big John" McCarthy, once the green flag flies, let's get it on.
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