Spotter's Stand: Jeff Gordon vs. Kurt Busch Tops Martinsville Drama

Maybe this is what NASCAR's Robin Pemberton had in mind in January when his "Have at it, boys" line became the buzz phrase of the 2010 season.

In fact, it may have been even better.

Sunday at Martinsville, Va., couldn't have been scripted more perfectly in terms of drivers leaving the .526-mile bullring irritated with each other and how the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship battle is setting up with four races to go.

Oh, and some guy named Dale Earnhardt Jr. managed to have the South Central Virginia crowd roaring for the 90 laps he led -- the most he's paced all season.

But Jeff Gordon and Kurt Busch -- personalities who have little crossover appeal within their separate fan bases -- provided the most interesting episode.

Gordon's most recent history with Busch came a quarter-lap before the ultimate payback, but their past history this season includes a cut tire on Busch's No. 2 that left him steamed at Gordon after finishing 32nd on the Infineon road course in June.

"I tried to give the No. 24 all the room that I could, but he got into us so hard that he cut down our right-rear tire and we had to pit under green and lost almost 30 positions," Busch said in June.

Gordon didn't agree with Busch's assessment then, saying Busch had such a fate coming to him after previous rough racing.

Busch may have recalled all that after Gordon tapped the No. 2 in turn three during lap 385 of Sunday's race, because after wiggling and regaining control, he caught Gordon as they exited turn four.

"Over the years with (Jeff) Gordon here, back in the 97 (car), wrecking the 2 car, whether you're a current Kurt fan or ex-Rusty (Wallace) fan, he's wrecked the 2 car a lot here."
-- Kurt Busch A heavy use of Busch's 'chrome horn' followed, spinning Gordon into the inside wall on the frontstretch and causing substantial rear-end damage.

"(He) was on the outside lane on restarts and so, yeah, he shoved me in there and I shoved him back in Turn 4," said Busch. "I didn't mean to get into him that hard."

Busch's next comment, though, may have tipped his full hand -- one bent on retribution.

"Over the years with (Jeff) Gordon here, back in the 97 (car), wrecking the 2 car, whether you're a current Kurt fan or ex-Rusty (Wallace) fan, he's wrecked the 2 car a lot here," Busch said.

Gordon acknowledged Busch's attitude as a primary reason for the retribution.

"Either he didn't know I was there or whatever and cut down on me and I got into him," Gordon said. "Kurt Busch doesn't have a very long fuse, so either it was payback or he just got angry really quick and decided to wreck us."

Gordon's belief of Busch having a "short fuse" left him chuckling over Busch's mention of previous history between the drivers and teams.

"Why does that not surprise me that he said that?" Gordon said, laughing. "I think if we just let him talk, that's all that really needs to be said."

The impact on the title hopes of Gordon, who was already near virtual elimination, was huge as he limped home in 20th. He's 203 points behind Jimmie Johnson in first.

"I said it here, more than once, that I probably made the move a little late," Gordon said. "I was going to get into him. It wasn't much. But I gave him enough of a reason that whatever things he has from past history or whatever thoughts he has in there, it sparked it, you know? At that point, he was determined to wreck us."

Indeed Busch was, and judging by his concern about Gordon getting into Busch late in the race, Busch may still be thinking about the past the next time the two are in close competition.

"His chicken move afterward wasn't called for, but that shows the game we're gonna play," Busch said. "One bump versus another bump, it still seems like the scorecard isn't even."

WHO'S HOT: Denny Hamlin practically called his own home run this weekend, knowing what he needed to do to reel Jimmie Johnson in. If he can avoid problems at Talladega, expect the Virginia kid to continue to be the 48's biggest threat.

WHO'S NOT: Ryan Newman's broken rear-end gear left him with a 30th-place finish. Newman also wrecked early in the race last week at Charlotte, finishing 36th. Prior to the recent bad streak, Newman had finished 11th or better in seven straight races.