The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season is not without the regular dose of rivalries between the drivers.
In a bid to win races in the highest tier of the NASCAR series, Cup drivers sometimes drive at the edge creating rivalries between other drivers. From heated confrontation to almost ending up in a fight and needing to be separated by officials, Cup Series see such action every season.
This season, fans had to wait until the playoffs for such rivalries to begin but there are some that are building up as the season heads deeper into the playoffs, where stakes are high.
One such rivalry is between Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell. It started when Larson spun Bell out at Watkins Glen International. Larson, who won the race, apologized to Bell, but the latter didn’t want to speak to Larson due to the incident.
Kyle Larson on his dirt racing experience helping him win the race at Bristol
Another rivalry in the Cup Series is between Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin. During the overtime finish at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, Hamlin sent Briscoe off course. Briscoe entered the race but was issued a stop-go penalty. Without realizing that he was penalized Briscoe continued racing hard and spun Hamlin. Hamlin questioned Briscoe’s judgement after the race for costing him the win.
The most recent of the rivalries with the most heat – Chase Elliott vs Kevin Harvick. At Bristol Motor Speedway, with 35 laps to go, the two drivers were racing for the top spot when Harvick’s splitter cut into Elliott’s tire, thereby forcing the latter to pit. But when he returned to the race, coincidentally, ahead of Harvick, he made sure that Harvick would not win the race. The on-track incident was followed by a heated argument between the two drivers. Harvick said Elliott threw a “temper tantrum” while Elliott said that he doesn’t care who Harvick is or how long he has been in NASCAR.
With a number of races left, it will be interesting to see how the rivalries will unfold.