"I'm gonna bust his a**" - When Tony Stewart lashed out at Joey Logano after Kyle Busch’s wild victory
During the 2013 NASCAR Cup Series, Tony Stewart was involved in a post-race altercation over a blocking move made by Joey Logano on the final restart.
Penske's driver Logano grabbed a top-five finish with a P3, while NASCAR Hall of Famer Stewart finished the race at P22 in Fontana, California. The three-time Cup Series champion Stewart was spotted venting his frustration at Logano for his move on the late restart.
The scuffle even forced Team Penske and Stewart-Haas Racing crew members to separate the two Cup Series drivers.
In a subsequent interview with Stewart, Fox reporter Steve Byrnes asked the SHR co-owner the reason behind his anger at Logano. Stewart replied:
"What the hell do you think I was mad about? Dumb little son of a b***h runs us clear down to the infield he wants b***h about everybody else and he's the one that drives like a little p***k. I'm gonna bust his a**."
The Team Penske driver was also interviewed later regarding the pit road altercation. Logano in his defense stated:
"I had to throw a block there that was a race for the lead and I felt like the #14[Tony Stewart] underneath me that was going to be the end of my opportunity to win the race.
"So I was just trying to protect the spot I had and that was I was actually pedaling because I couldn't keep the #18[Kyle Busch] for the line. I was actually faster than the #18...I'm trying to stagger myself, make sure I don't beat him into the line and then I had to block and #14 [car's] run because I was pedaling it."
Logano's scuffle with his fellow competitors started on the race's final lap. The #22 driver was involved in a door-to-door battle with his former teammate Denny Hamlin in the final moments of the stage.
While Logano and Hamlin were struggling to take the lead after the white flag, Kyle Busch capitalized and drove past them to take the checkered flag.
Here's a look at two-time Cup Series champion Busch grabbing victory from Logano and Hamlin on the final lap:
"I don't like this guy, that was my reaction" - Tony Stewart's first impression of Joey Logano
On NASCAR Untold Stories, Joey Logano recalled a childhood memory when he was snubbed by his then-favorite driver Tony Stewart while waiting for an autograph from the NASCAR legend Stewart.
Logano claimed that his request for an autograph on Stewart's hat was blatantly ignored and in frustration, Logano disposed of all his stuff. But while reflecting on the encounter, Logano said Stewart was an "emotional person."
"I was a Tony Stewart fan and I want to get his autograph," he said. "I want to meet Tony Stewart. He must have had a bad day or something, because now knowing Tony, this isn't who he is, but Tony's emotional person as well, I've learned that about him too."
"Tony just walked right by us, I yelled, 'Hey Tony, here sign my hat.' He didn't even look at me, just bee-lined right," Logano added, "Screw this guy, that was my reaction, I don't like this guy, that was my reaction. So I took all my stuff and I threw it in the garbage when I got home," he added.
Despite their initial rivalry, these incidents amuse Logano now; the championship-winning drivers are on good terms today.