By Caleb Whisler, Staff Writer
In the first round of qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at ISM Raceway in Avondale, Arizona, a brawl erupted between Daniel Suarez and Michael McDowell on pit road.
In typical qualifying fashion, 30 plus drivers decided to wait until the very last moment to make their run for the top-24 to advance to the second round of qualifying. Unfortunately, Suarez was upset that McDowell ruined his at-speed lap.
“It was kind of chaotic out there,” McDowell said. “We all waited until the very last second to go out trying to do the best track you can and so when you do that you’re gonna have traffic with people finishing their lap and starting their lap. I understand while Daniel is upset. I’d be upset too.
“I definitely messed up his lap, but then he tried to crash us. When he came over I wasn’t that excited about him trying to crash us on the race track. I made a mistake, an honest mistake, but trying to crash somebody is a different story. That’s all. It’s just racing.”
Suarez believes that there was a lack of respect from McDowell.
“As a race car driver you always have respect for the other drivers, especially here in Phoenix when we all know that the second lap is a good one,” he said. “Your first one you’re just putting temperature on everything. I was opening my second lap and he was in my way in corner one and two.
“I assumed he was gonna get out of my way in corner three and four and he didn’t. He was in my way for the entire second lap and then he messed up my opening for the third lap, so he pretty much messed up the whole qualifying.”
McDowell qualified 27th, while Suarez qualified 28th.
This crap is getting totally out of hand. Every week some driver is needlessly complaining about another not racing the way they want them to race. First is was Logano bitching about McDowell not helping him win the 500. Next Stenhouse wouldn’t get out of Truex’s lane. Jones complaining that Stenhouse raced him to hard. And now this fiasco over qualifying. Hey boys, it’s called racing for a reason. Grow up and race. I expect every driver out there to race hard 100% of the time. I want every driver to fight tooth and nail for every inch. That’s what fans want to see. Get it?
Why should McDowell help Logano? NASCAR did not give Stenhouse the move over flag. So why should he? Hey Jones, you’re in the big leagues, grow up. Suaurez to bad.crap happens.
See the empty seats and low tv ratings. Wise up this kind of bs isn’t helping fellows. Crap or get off of the pot.