For years, NASCAR has been trying to get away from the beer-drinking, cut-off shorts wearing, stuck-in-the-woods stereotype that has long been associated with the sport.
And they had been doing a pretty good job of it – until recently.
Last week, an overzealous Carl Edwards caused a 12-car crash at Talladega Superspeedway, prompting rival driver Kevin Harvick to get a little nasty.
Words were exchanged, names were called and Edwards even left a menacing note on the hood of Harvick’s car.
Yes, these are professional NASCAR drivers, getting paid hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.
And no, they are not still in fifth grade.
Harvick, who has been notorious for feuding, has since warned other drivers to back off. Four days after the crash, he also confronted Edwards in his garage at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
The two had to be separated after Edwards choked Harvick and was then shoved onto the hood of his No. 33 car.
Better luck in the next race, NASCAR.
