Tempers flare in Newman/Gordon confrontation
What was Jeff Gordon thinking?
As savvy as the four-time NASCAR Cup champion was on the track, approaching Ryan Newman after he battled for 400 laps at Dover attempting to stay in the series Playoff was the equivalent of poking a bear--a bear twice his size.
Sure, Newman was blocking Chase Elliott in the closing laps of the Apache Warrior 400. He was fighting for every position and every point. Newman was going to make the rear end of the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevy as wide as he possibly could — particularly when just two points separated Newman from the cutoff to the next round of the playoffs.
But after the race on Sunday — and after Newman had been eliminated from the playoffs — Gordon strolled by Newman and quipped, “Thanks for the help.”
Newman, who was performing his post-race media duties on pit road, replied, “What’s that?”
“Thanks for the help,” Gordon said.
“For what?” Newman asked.
“What was happening with the leaders, man,” Gordon said.
“You don’t think I was racing for my own position?” Newman asked.
“I didn’t say you weren’t,” Gordon said.
“Just watch what you say, man,” Newman replied.
“I said, ‘Thanks for the help,’ ” Gordon said and turned to walk away as Newman approached.
“You said it as a smart-ass,” Newman said.
“No, I didn’t,” Gordon said as he picked up his pace. “You took it that way.”
No, Gordon didn’t have his FOX Sports hat on at the time. Pulling for one driver over another in that case would have shown true bias. Gordon, who still has a stake in Hendrick Motorsports, was standing up for his former teammate — and his former No. 24 team — when he confronted Newman on pit road.
Gordon wasn’t behind the wheel on Sunday. Even so, he certainly knows the frustration Newman must have felt at the time after watching his playoff hopes dashed. Perhaps, after further review, Gordon felt it was in his best interest to defuse the situation with Newman.
Gordon sought Newman out when he returned to the garage to grab his gear. But it wouldn't be surprising if Newman had the last word.
Watch the full video of the incident here:
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