Harvick, Montoya nearly come to blows after wreck

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- Juan Montoya was as hot and spicy as the gum on his No. 42 Dodge on Sunday when Kevin Harvick threatened to "kick his ass" for causing a wreck Montoya said was not his fault.

On Lap 72 heading into Turn 1, Montoya went wide. Martin Truex Jr. touched Montoya and got his car loose going in to the corner. Montoya then unintentionally hit the No. 29 of Harvick, setting off a chain of crashes that brought out a full-course red-flag caution for major cleanup -- and a major shoving match between Montoya and Harvick ensued.

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Climbing outside of his car while parked on the track, Harvick approached Montoya first, the two faced off and Montoya pushed Harvick. Harvick then pushed back.

Of what transpired Harvick said, "My interpretation is you just got run over. I guess the No. 1 [Truex] ran over the No. 42 ... it just all goes up in smoke because some people get impatient. It just seems like [Montoya] runs over someone every week."

From Montoya's perspective, it was a racing incident and the driver said he didn't appreciate the way Harvick reacted.

When asked by television broadcasters what Harvick and Montoya were talking about during the incident, where both drivers were grabbing one another's helmets, Harvick said, "I was talking about kicking his ass, because that's how I felt about him."

Montoya said if the incident was his fault, he would take responsibility and apologize.

"It wasn't my fault," Montoya said. "He was shouting and grabbing and I don't appreciate that. I have a little respect for the guy; well I used to have a little respect for the guy ... don't push me around like I'm anybody."

Both team owners, Chip Ganassi of the No. 42 and Richard Childress of the No. 29, said only that the incident was unfortunate.

"Kevin was a big help to [Montoya] when he came over," Ganassi said. "They didn't understand what happened. We got bumped from behind."

When asked for his thoughts on the matter, race-winner Tony Stewart said he wasn't impressed.

"I hear they still had the Hans and helmets on ... If you're not going to take 'em off then don't waste everyone's time," Stewart said.

It was likely only a matter of time before a physical confrontation ensued between Harvick and Montoya.

In Daytona for the Pepsi 400, crew members in Harvick's pits were apparently ticked off at Montoya for sending their driver into the wall early in the race and voiced their disgust via the side of a used race tire.

Displayed for all to read on the wall of a tire in yellow was the phrase: "Keep for 42, go back to F1 so you don't have to race."

On about Lap 56 of that race, Montoya's No. 42 machine got loose and made contact with Harvick bouncing the No. 29 machine off the wall creating damage to his right side which ultimately led to a tire rub.

Harvick went a lap down and finished 34th.

Not since the shoving match between Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth in Bristol last spring have drivers nearly come to blows at the track. But it was just a few weeks ago that Stewart was penalized for an expletive on live television.

Stewart used a curse word after winning the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard and was fined $25,000 and 25 driver points. However, NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said Harvick will not be penalized for using the word "ass" on live television.

"It doesn't violate FCC [Federal Communications Commission] regulations," Tharp said.

And Tharp doesn't expect any penalties to come from the shoving match between the two drivers either.

With 11 laps to go in the race, repairs to both cars were made and the drivers returned to the track. Harvick finished 36th and Montoya 39th.