NASCAR Drivers Most Likely to Lose Their Cool at Talladega During 2014 Geico 500
In culinary terms, Sunday’s Geico 500 at Talladega Superspeedway has the likelihood of becoming one heck of a stew.
First, it’ll start off at a simmer, as drivers like Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson and Brad Keselowski all try to keep their cool while also desperately trying to stave off elimination from the Chase for the Sprint Cup.
Next, if the racing action is as it typically is at ‘Dega, things will quickly move to a slow burn, especially if certain drivers feel they’re not being given enough respect from their counterparts.
And last, if things go the way many are likely expecting them to go—particularly after this past Saturday’s fiasco at Charlotte that involved Keselowski, Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin and Tony Stewart—the tempers of likely a lot more drivers are going to finally boil over.
Let’s take a look at those drivers—both Chasers and non-Chasers alike—who have the highest likelihood of losing their cool when things really start to heat up at NASCAR’s biggest superspeedway.
Kevin Harvick
1 of 7
To his credit, Kevin Harvick has been a relatively cool customer this year, particularly during the Chase. By winning at Charlotte, he punched his ticket into the Eliminator Round.
But that doesn’t mean Harvick won’t lose his cool if he gets into a conflict with another driver.
Remember, drivers have memories like elephants, and with nothing to lose, if Harvick wants to extract payback from a fellow competitor for something that happened earlier this season, or even in the past, he would likely take great pleasure if he knocked another driver out of the Chase.
Helloooooo, Kyle Busch, are you listening?
Denny Hamlin
2 of 7
Denny Hamlin is another driver who has been known to let his anger and temper get the best of him, especially in the most stressful of situations.
Hamlin will likely advance to the next round of the Chase. That is, provided he doesn’t get involved in a wreck that might have been preventable if another driver didn’t try to do something stupid.
At the same time, we have to commend Hamlin for not losing his cool at Charlotte last Saturday after Brad Keselowski t-boned him on the last lap.
Hamlin very easily could have gone after Keselowski, but he wisely maintained control, lest he would have hurt his Chase chances.
Brad Keselowski
3 of 7
Brad Keselowski should trade places with Sprint Cup rookie Kyle Larson for Sunday’s race, as Bad Brad will have a big target on his back.
After what he did at Charlotte, wrecking Hamlin on the final lap and then ramming Kenseth and Stewart on pit road, Keselowski likely not only lost some friends, he also probably lost a lot of respect from other drivers.
Face it, Keselowski is desperate now. He’s 10th in the standings and has to finish high enough in Sunday’s race to climb into the top eight in the season standings to advance to the Eliminator Round.
But if Keselowski finds himself way behind after the midpoint of Sunday’s race and there’s little hope of him rallying back, don’t be surprised if he tries to extract some revenge on others—particularly on a driver or two who also may be on the elimination bubble.
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Jimmie Johnson
4 of 7
Jimmie Johnson is one of the calmest drivers in NASCAR and rarely gets rattled.
But it’s likely it’ll be "No More Mr. Nice Guy" for Johnson on Sunday. Tied for 11th with teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. and on the verge of elimination from the Chase, Johnson will likely drive in a way that we have never seen before.
The only way Johnson can advance to the next round is by virtue of a win. Anything less and he’s out of the Chase.
Ergo, there goes his bid to successfully defend last season’s championship, as well as his goal of tying NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty and the late Dale Earnhardt for most career Sprint Cup championships (seven each).
If someone like a Keselowski intentionally wrecks Johnson, don’t be surprised if JJ tries to do a Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao imitation.
Tony Stewart
5 of 7
We saw vintage Tony Stewart after Saturday’s race at Charlotte. When Keselowski slammed into the rear of Stewart’s car, Tony didn’t just walk away, he threw his car in reverse and did some slamming of his own into Keselowski’s front end.
Stewart has been involved in more than his share of incidents at Talladega during his 15-year Sprint Cup career. And even though he failed to qualify for this year’s Chase, that doesn’t mean he won’t lose his cool if the situation presents itself.
Charlotte is a perfect example of that.
What’s more, by not being in the Chase, Stewart has nothing to lose. Not only could he be a spoiler with a potential win, which would be his first visit to Victory Lane this season, he could also be a spoiler to one of those drivers on the Chase bubble.
Kurt Busch
6 of 7
Kurt Busch has been nothing short of a reformed man this year.
Of course, being given an opportunity to join one of the best teams in Sprint Cup racing, Stewart-Haas Racing, has certainly provided a way to influence and curtail any potential temper tantrums or outbursts. After all, the last thing Busch wants to do at this point in his career is to revert back to teams like Phoenix Racing or Furniture Row Racing, where he was before returning to the big time with SHR.
But like teammate Tony Stewart, Busch has nothing to lose at this point. He made the Chase but was eliminated after the first round.
Sure, he’s still chasing the top prize for Chase drivers who won’t make it to the final round—a fifth-place finish for the season. But if someone crosses Busch, don’t be surprised if he crosses back.
Clint Bowyer
7 of 7
If any driver has a chip on his shoulder, it’s Clint Bowyer.
Up until last month’s race at Atlanta, Bowyer appeared to be headed for the Chase. But a shifter lever malfunction in that race knocked him out of the top 16 and ultimately out of the Chase.
Bowyer has had run-ins with several drivers over his career, including Keselowski, Busch, Jeff Gordon and even his own team owner, Michael Waltrip.
I’m not saying Bowyer will intentionally try to spoil—aka wreck (literally)—the Chase advancement hopes of any particular driver at Talladega. But at the same time, if he is pushed, don’t be surprised if he shoves back, even if the outcome means a Chaser heading into Talladega leaves there no longer in the Chase.
Follow me on Twitter @JerryBonkowski
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