Another run-in between Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer resulted in damaged racecars Saturday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, but unlike their previous encounters, this one was unintentional.
Jeff Gordon suffers severe damage after garage collision with Clint Bowyer
Jeff Gordon smashed into Clint Bowyer’s car while backing out of his garage stall, damaging both cars.
The incident occurred as Bowyer was driving through the garage when Gordon began backing up out of his stall during Saturday’s first of two practices. One of Gordon’s crewmen was behind the No. 24 car guiding him out, but didn’t appear to see Bowyer. And because of pit boxes blocking his viewpoint, Bowyer had no way of knowing Gordon was coming out and proceeded to run into the right rear quarter panel of Gordon’s Chevrolet.
Gordon suffered significant damage and missed the remainder of morning practice as his team made repairs. Bowyer sustained just minor front-end damage, but quickly returned to the track to resume practicing.
The repairs on Gordon’s car were complete by the start of final practice at 12:30 p.m. ET.
“The guy that backs me out looked over, guess he was just starting to back me out and I crept out there and he cleared me, but (Bowyer), probably couldn’t really see me,” Gordon said. “I don’t know if he kind of glanced away or what, but when he looked back, I was just right there and couldn’t go anywhere.
“It’s kind of a combination of, I guess, both of us could take fault in that.”
Bowyer acknowledged partial culpability. He said he was trying to avoid hitting anyone in the garage -- which is typically congested with crewmembers, officials and fans -- and had no indication Gordon was backing up.
“There are so many people in here,” Bowyer told NASCAR.com. “Hell, I glanced up ... all that (equipment) was there; that guy backing him out, I think he glanced up for a second but when I got there he wasn’t even looking.
“There’s just so much going on (in the garage). It’s a wonder that stuff doesn’t happen more often.”
On a weekend where he’s lacked speed, the contact just added to Gordon’s troubles. He qualified 23rd for Sunday’s 5-Hour Energy 301 and posted the 22nd-fastest time in final practice. Bowyer was eighth-fastest in final practice and will start 18th Sunday.
“I don’t want to say it can’t get worse, but I know it can,” Gordon said. “So, I’m not going to say that. But hopefully this will all pay off for us (Sunday).”
Gordon and Bowyer were central figures in one of the more famous brawls in NASCAR history during the fall 2012 race at Phoenix International Raceway.
Upset over earlier contact that flattened a tire as well as a transgression in March at Martinsville Speedway, Gordon deliberately crashed Bowyer, who was in championship contention. Bowyer then sprinted from his wrecked car to confront Gordon in the garage, as a fight between their respective teams took place.
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