15 NASCAR Drivers You’d Love to Fight
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In the sport of NASCAR every fan has a favorite driver. They are the drivers for whom you cross your fingers, toes and eyes in hopes of them getting a win during the weekend. This isn’t about them. This about the other drivers NASCAR fans covet; the most irritating, hated and rage-inducing drivers. These are the 15 NASCAR drivers you’d love to fight.
Honorable Mention: Chad Knaus
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Honorable Mention: Chad Knaus
Chad Knaus is not a driver but he is the crew chief for Jimmie Johnson. Knaus has been suspended and fined multiple times for cheating. You want to fight him because he is a cheater.
15. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
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15. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
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Ricky Stenhouse Jr is hated because you always hear about him but for no reason. Stenhouse is the boyfriend of Danica Patrick. Stenhouse, like Patrick, doesn’t have much winning under his belt either. Even though Stenhouse has amounted to next to nothing, you are constantly updated about him because of his girlfriend. You want to fight him because his fame annoys you.
14. Michael Waltrip
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14. Michael Waltrip
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The Waltrips are a legendary family in NASCAR but Michael Waltrip can irritate any NASCAR fan for a number of reasons. Waltrip’s personality as an announcer is over the top. He is mostly respected because of his last name. He went on 'Dancing with the Stars,' something you’ll probably never see another driver do, and he has only recorded four Sprint Cup wins in his 30-year racing career. You want to fight him because he irritates you.
13. Juan Pablo Montoya
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13. Juan Pablo Montoya
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There was a lot of hype around Juan Pablo Montoya. His career was better than many thought; his best finish in the standings was eighth, he won two races in nine years but recorded 59 top tens and nine poles. It is bothersome is that he left NASCAR in 2013 after his contract wasn’t renewed with Ganassi. He told ESPN he wanted to win and Indy Cars are where he wins. You want to fight him because who leaves NASCAR for Indy Cars?
12. Joe Nemecheck
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12. Joe Nemecheck
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Joe Nemechek’s racing legacy is just sad. He only has four career Sprint Cup wins, and his best finish in the standings was 15th and that was 15 years ago. You want to fight him because you want to knock some sense into him.
11. Jeremy Mayfield
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11. Jeremy Mayfield
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Jeremy Mayfield was suspended from NASCAR after testing positive for methamphetamines. He denied this vehemently saying it was complications from taking the allergy pill Claritin. He was busted in 2011 after deputies found 1.5 grams of meth and stolen goods from nearby businesses in his home. You want to fight him because he’s an idiot.
10. Carl Edwards
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10. Carl Edwards
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Carl Edwards actually seems like a sweetheart, but he’s the epitome of everything NASCAR wasn’t built on. Edwards is a pretty boy with a rock solid body. Edwards looks nothing like Bobby Allison, Cale Yarborough and the drivers of yesteryear. They looked like they would celebrate with a drink, Edwards looks like he celebrates with a protein shake. You want to fight him to see if you can rattle his cage since he’s better looking than you are.
9. Jimmie Johnson
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9. Jimmie Johnson
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Jimmie Johnson simply wins way too much. He dominates NASCAR and makes it hard for your favorite drivers to have a shot at a championship let alone a win. You want to fight him because he’s too good.
8. Danica Patrick
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8. Danica Patrick
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Danica Patrick is a driver many fans would want to fight but can’t. Patrick doesn’t have a great reputation as being a nice driver, which is disappointing because she isn’t a good enough driver to have an attitude. Even though Patrick is one of the best female racers around, she wouldn’t be in the conversation if she was of the opposite gender. You want to fight her because her career, so far, has been nothing but a gimmick.
7. Ryan Newman
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7. Ryan Newman
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Ryan Newman isn’t as bad as he used to be, but he still leaves a bad taste in the mouths of NASCAR fans who remember him being a big baby. He’s made fun of fellow drivers’ appearances, yet he’s the driver who somehow is always sitting in the top 15 of the standings without having a multi-win season. You want to fight him because he’s currently in the chase and drivers with wins this season aren’t.
6. Kevin Harvick
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6. Kevin Harvick
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Kevin Harvick is now a social media trend after a fight with Keselowski on Nov. 2 at the end of the race in Texas. “Harvicking” is when you come up behind a person (or possibly come face to face) while you are steaming mad and when it looks like you’re going to shove them into yesterday, you lightly nudge them and people snicker about it. You want to fight him because he probably won’t hurt you.
5. Jeff Gordon
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5. Jeff Gordon
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Jeff Gordon is not well liked amongst the NASCAR community. He seems like a nice enough guy. Gordon was different from drivers in the past; he didn’t seem tough, he won way too much and he was becoming one of the better known drivers in NASCAR. It was irritating for NASCAR fans to see a California boy be the face of a sport with such heavy southern roots. You want to fight him because you are holding a grudge from the 90s.
4. Kurt Busch
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4. Kurt Busch
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Kurt Busch was named one of the most disliked athletes in America by Forbes magazine in 2013. He’s arrogant, has a short temper and is extremely rude and aggressive towards reporters. If anything, you want to fight him because everyone else does too.
3. Kyle Busch
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3. Kyle Busch
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Kyle Busch is arguably the worst Busch brother. The things that come out of his mouth are eye-roll worthy, he antagonizes both fans and drivers and he is related to Kurt Busch. You want to fight him because of his last name, and at some point he has wrecked your favorite driver.
2. Tony Stewart
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2. Tony Stewart
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Tony Stewart’s career is laced with controversy after controversy. This season specifically has had a huge dark cloud casting a shadow over Stewart. Stewart is the bad boy of NASCAR, but this title was earned through fines, suspensions and hot-tempered interactions with reporters and officials. You want to fight him because of his reputation.
1. Brad Keselowski
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1. Brad Keselowski
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Brad Keselowski has become one of the more volatile NASCAR drivers in recent years. Fellow drivers have attempted to fight Keselowski this season multiple times. The worst part about Keselowski is that he truly doesn’t care. “I’d rather have enemies in NASCAR than have friends and be sitting at home,” Keselowski told USA Today in a recent interview. You want to fight him because he doesn’t shut up.
T erri Washington is a Los Angeles Clippers writer for www.RantSports.com . Follow her on Twitter @Terri7589 , “Like” her on Facebook or add her to your network on Google
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