Feuds between drivers are something that makes NASCAR the entertaining sport we all love. Sure, there are the redneck jokes that surround this sport and some people may still view it as rough-and-tumble southern boys driving cars, but that is what makes NASCAR so great.

Considering the sport grew leaps and bounds after the first full flag to flag televised broadcast resulted in an infield fist fight, it is obvious that off-track altercations are just as much a part of NASCAR as the on-track action.

The latest and greatest feud, without a doubt, is between NASCAR Sprint Cup Series veteran Denny Hamlin and up-and-coming Nationwide Series star turned full-time Cup driver Brad Keselowski.

The two first made headlines in May 2008 during the Nationwide race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Their on-track beating and banging led to a skirmish between their crews in the pits after the checkered flag flew.

Round two was a long time coming. Almost a year and a half after their first incident, the dastardly duo got into one another at Dover this past September which resulted in Hamlin’s No. 20 going for a spin.

It was eerily similar to Saturday’s altercation when Hamlin was once again sent spinning, this time at Phoenix International Raceway.

Ding Ding. Round three.

The question is, how far will this go?

NASCAR could use a good, old-fashioned rivalry again. Especially since there has not been a big one since Kurt Busch and Jimmy Spencer were going at it back in 2003.

It also appears that NASCAR is in agreement since neither Keselowski nor Hamlin were penalized for their behavior when they were individually summoned to the NASCAR hauler for a chat.

The stage is already set and the two drivers know their roles. Bad Brad Keselowski is the one who really starts the trouble on the track and afterwards, once the helmet is off, is the cool customer who claims he will not hold a grudge. Dangerous Denny Hamlin is less aggressive, or perhaps just less obvious, on the track but uses verbal assault tactics when he is out of his car flinging around words like ‘idiot’ and ‘moron’.

After the initial incident in Charlotte, Hamlin was quoted as saying “you want to throw a rock, I’ll throw a concrete block back”. Well, if words are his concrete block this could get very interesting because Keselowski does not really seem like an “I am rubber, you are glue” kinda guy.

When all is said and done, this duel may be just the thing NASCAR needs, especially at the end of the season when Jimmie Johnson’s domination has continued for the 4th consecutive year.

Homestead-Miami will set the stage for a possible round four next weekend and Hamlin vs. Keselowski is the show NASCAR fans should tune in to watch.

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