Rivalry, roughness and revenge

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Hamlin, Keselowski rivalry is at its boiling point

The rivalry between Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski reached its apex in last Saturday's Nationwide Series race at Phoenix, and chances are the heated feud will boil over into this weekend's season finale at Homestead.

Hamlin and Keselowski's latest on-track altercation occurred on lap 158, when Keselowski spun Hamlin while the two were battling for a top-five position.

After the race, Keselowski claimed that Hamlin got into the back of him and pushed him up the track the lap prior to their incident. Hamlin saw things differently and promised retaliation at Homestead. When ESPN pit reporter Dave Burns asked Hamlin if NASCAR should intervene, he replied, "Nah, nah, I'll take care of him, it's no biggie. I got him. He'll learn the hard way."

Busch fails to clinch title

Carl Edwards rolled to a dominating win at Phoenix International Speedway that temporarily staved off Kyle Busch's bid to clinch the Nationwide Series title.

Busch's first NASCAR championship is still a near-certainty -- he only needs to start next week's race at Homestead-Miami Speedway to grab the title.

But early problems Saturday spoiled Busch's bid to get it out of the way. He spun his Toyota eight laps into the race, suffered heavy damage when he hit the wall, and had to battle to a ninth-place finish.

NASCAR's anger management may need work

HOMESTEAD, Fla. Montoya-Stewart took a page out of the Hamlin-Keselowski playbook.

Get hit, hit back.

Retaliate and wait for the next strike.

Keselowski may have rough road ahead

AVONDALE, Ariz. - Brad Keselowski's crew chief was headed to the pre-race driver meeting when Juan Pablo Montoya cut him off at the door.

"The next two weeks, you better bring your worst cars," Montoya told Roy McCauley.

"Why's that?" McCauley asked.

Bowyer wins 2nd race

Clint Bowyer raced to his second Nationwide Series victory of the season on Saturday, taking the lead with 83 laps to go on the concrete at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del.

His celebration was ignored as all attention turned to a brief, but heated, confrontation on pit road between Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski. They made contact late in the race, sending Hamlin to the garage. Keselowski finished third and was greeted when he got out of his car by an angry Hamlin.

They exchanged words, and Hamlin shoved Keselowski. Keselowski's public relations rep shoved Hamlin. The crews for both drivers got between the drivers. Keselowski crew chief Tony Eury Jr. ended it after a brief chat with Hamlin.