NASCAR Drivers Delivering Drama, Ratings With Dust-Ups In Early Races

NASCAR drivers five races into the season are “feuding, fighting and wrecking," which is “exactly what NASCAR has been looking for," according to Jeff Gluck of USA TODAY. This is what NASCAR officials “have been asking the drivers to do in recent years."

The “verbal barbs, on-track bumping and a few punches" seen at Sunday's Sprint Cup Series Auto Club 400 are "all things NASCAR hopes can help inject some excitement into the sport." The fans at the track on Sunday “roared when the screens showed"

Tony Stewart’s altercation with Joey Logano. Overnight ratings for the race on Sunday were up 32% “one week after Logano feuded" with Denny Hamlin following the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Driver Brad Keselowski said of the fans, “They want to see us be human, and humans are emotional." USA TODAY