Chase Elliott, Michael McDowell trade barbs after Daytona run-in

Chase Elliott and Michael McDowell probably should watch out for each other this weekend in Kentucky, judging by their current feelings about each other.

Though they both race full-time in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Chase Elliott and Michael McDowell don’t have a whole lot in common. The former is the 21-year-old of one of the sport’s legends, hails from Georgia and drives for one of the top teams in the garage. In contrast, the latter is more than a decade older and toils for Leavine Family Racing, which isn’t exactly overflowing with cash or sponsors.

You’d think McDowell would be due a shout out for surviving what seemed to be about 100 incidents in which his No. 95 Chevrolet was involved in the Coke Zero 400 last weekend and earning his first ever Cup Series top-5 finish. But, well, Elliott wasn’t exactly singing his praises.

As reported by NASCAR.com, Elliott was a little upset with McDowell after contact from the 95 sent his No. 24 Chevrolet through some of the Daytona grass. It was hardly the worst incident of a night that set a new July record for DIS cautions, but Elliott was upset enough to let his crew know what he thought was the issue.

"“That damn 95 (McDowell) wrecks me one more time man. Damnit. …What in the hell is that (expletive’s) problem, man? That is the biggest dumb ass I’ve ever seen in my life. That (expletive) can’t drive a wooden screw.”"

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That’s, uh, not exactly a compliment. McDowell said it was actually Kasey Kahne who knocked him into Elliott. He then kind of, sort of abandoned the high road with his retort on Twitter.

Them’s fighting words! Like the kind that might see Elliott and McDowell throw down in an MMA ring if there were one set up at Kentucky like there was in the Daytona infield.

Jokes aside, this is an intriguing new rivalry in the making. We’re used to seeing guys who run near each other on the track get under each other’s skin, but it’s much less common to see someone who’s probably going to make the playoffs become enemies with someone who has to scrap every week just to try to be competitive.

McDowell has a bit of a height and weight advantage considering he’s listed at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds to Elliott’s 5-foot-10 and 145. Maybe they’ll just have to keep this a verbal jousting match as a result, but it should still be fun to see if it lasts past this week.