More of this Feature • Part 2: Spencer deserves suspension

Join the Discussion "Spencer should get some quiet time at home for this careless display." Sound Off

Related Resources • Harvick Parked • NASCAR Safety

Dateline: August 5, 2002

Jimmy Spencer's NASCAR History

It's no secret that Jimmy Spencer earned his "Mr. Excitement" nickname by doing more than his share of pushing and shoving on the track. Spencer is a throwback to the early days of NASCAR where a little rubbing was just part of a days racing. Spencer has been widely criticised for this and clearly has made an effort over the last few years to clean up his image.

It has been working. "Mr. Excitement" had toned it down quite a bit over the last couple of years. I had even reached the point where I was able to breathe when my favorite driver was racing near him.

New NASCAR Feud Begins

It all began in Phoenix in 2001 where Kurt Busch claims that he was taken out by Spencer. Busch was clearly angry after the incident and most likely carried that grudge into the 2002 season. Not that Busch was looking for a battle, but he wasn't likely to go out of his way to give Spencer a break.

The rivalry heated up during this spring's race in Bristol. While battling for the lead late in the race Spencer got into Busch and took the lead away. Then, on the very next lap, Kurt returned the favor and knocked Spencer back out of the lead. Kurt Busch then went on to win the race. After the race Spencer issued his now-famous thinly veiled threat: "Jimmy never forgets."

On lap 36 of the Brickyard 400 Jimmy unleashed his revenge and punted Busch into the turn 3 wall. It was blatant enough that other drivers made comments on the scanner during the race about Spencer's actions. I heard one driver in particular who was angry that Spencer would take those actions on a high-speed track and wanted to talk to NASCAR himself.

Next page > NASCAR Justice > Page 1, 2