Back in NASCAR’s wilder days, fights were almost as legendary as the racing itself, and fans absolutely loved it. One of the most iconic came at the 1979 Daytona 500, when Cale Yarborough and Donnie and Bobby Allison threw punches on the frontstretch after a last-lap crash, all live on national TV. But while those fights were iconic, NASCAR has long faced scrutiny for how it handles driver penalties after on-track altercations and post-race fights.

The sanctioning body often emphasizes that each situation is judged individually, but the lack of clear, consistent standards has fueled debate within the garage. Some incidents have resulted in heavy fines or probation, while others with similar levels of aggression have gone unpunished. NASCAR officials say decisions depend on “intent” and “a

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