Top 25 Teammate Rivalries in NASCAR History
25. Ricky Rudd vs. Dale Jarrett (Yates Racing)
Two veterans past their prime but still hungry. Their differing opinions on setups, strategy, and team direction made for quiet but sharp internal rivalry.
24. Mark Martin vs. Kurt Busch (Roush Fenway Racing)
A generational clash — Martin’s old-school patience vs. Busch’s fiery youth. Their differing approaches created tension in Roush’s stacked early-2000s lineup.
23. Ernie Irvan vs. Dale Jarrett (Robert Yates Racing)
Two elite talents sharing the same team name but very different eras of success. When Irvan returned from injury, competition for the team’s primary focus caused discomfort behind the scenes.
22. Darrell Waltrip vs. Bobby Allison (DiGard Racing)
Early NASCAR rivalry with major team tension. Both fought for DiGard’s resources and top-tier equipment — and weren’t afraid to voice frustrations publicly.
21. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. vs. Chris Buescher (Roush Fenway Racing)
Both fighting for relevance at RFR. When Buescher began outperforming Stenhouse, tension built over who should lead the team’s future.
20. Ryan Blaney vs. Joey Logano (Team Penske)
Friends off the track, fierce rivals on it. When Blaney stepped up as a title contender, Logano didn’t take it lightly — especially when they tangled for wins in 2023–2024.
19. Kyle Petty vs. Bobby Hamilton (Petty Enterprises)
Kyle’s leadership was questioned as Hamilton outperformed him. A quiet but real rivalry developed, symbolizing Petty Enterprises’ decline and generational shift.
18. Dale Earnhardt Jr. vs. Martin Truex Jr. (DEI)
Junior was the face of DEI; Truex the up-and-coming prodigy. Their friendly rivalry for attention and resources inside DEI foreshadowed Junior’s exit from the team.
17. Kurt Busch vs. Ryan Newman (Stewart-Haas Racing)
A clash of personalities — Busch’s volatility versus Newman’s no-nonsense demeanor. They worked together well enough to win races, but it was never warm behind closed doors.
16. Darrell Waltrip vs. Neil Bonnett (Junior Johnson Racing)
Both aggressive, both proud — their racing styles clashed constantly. Bonnett felt Waltrip got better equipment, and the tension was obvious in post-race interviews.
15. Kevin Harvick vs. Clint Bowyer (Stewart-Haas Racing)
Teammates who didn’t always see eye-to-eye. Harvick’s leadership style rubbed Bowyer the wrong way at times, and on-track contact didn’t help. Still, mutual respect kept it from boiling completely over.
14. Kyle Busch vs. Denny Hamlin vs. Carl Edwards (JGR Trio, 2015–2016)
A rare three-way teammate rivalry. Every race felt like a battle for internal dominance, especially when all three were title contenders — and none wanted to be the “support driver.”
13. Darrell Waltrip vs. Cale Yarborough (Junior Johnson Racing)
A short-lived but explosive rivalry. Both men were stars, both wanted to be Junior Johnson’s number one — and that clashing pride left deep cracks in one of NASCAR’s powerhouse teams.
12. Richard Petty vs. Buddy Baker (Petty Enterprises)
When Baker joined the King’s team, egos collided. Baker wanted to win, Petty wanted control — and there wasn’t enough spotlight for both legends in one shop.
11. Kyle Busch vs. Matt Kenseth (Joe Gibbs Racing)
Two of the smartest racers in the field — but total opposites in temperament. Busch’s aggression often collided with Kenseth’s calm precision, and even though they respected each other, every team debrief felt like a chess match.
10. Rusty Wallace vs. Jeremy Mayfield (Team Penske)
A forgotten rivalry that was anything but friendly. Mayfield’s wins made Wallace uneasy, and public shots about “team orders” and setups ended their relationship permanently.
9. Jeff Gordon vs. Terry Labonte (Hendrick Motorsports)
The young hotshot vs. the seasoned veteran. Gordon’s rise threatened Labonte’s position as Hendrick’s top driver, and while publicly civil, their differing styles created quiet internal tension during the late 1990s.
8. Joey Logano vs. Brad Keselowski (Team Penske)
Both champions, both ultra-competitive. Their aggressive racing style led to multiple on-track run-ins and blunt exchanges about teamwork — especially after 2020 when trust clearly broke down.
7. Kevin Harvick vs. Kurt Busch (Stewart-Haas Racing)
Two veterans known for tempers and egos. SHR meetings reportedly got heated as both fought to be the team leader — and they didn’t mind leaning on each other on track to prove it.
6. Kyle Busch vs. Carl Edwards (Joe Gibbs Racing)
Two alpha drivers in the same camp. Edwards’ clean-cut image clashed with Busch’s aggression — and their championship chase in 2016 turned into a quiet, psychological war for JGR supremacy.
5. Tony Stewart vs. Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing)
Two fierce competitors who respected each other — but couldn’t coexist peacefully. Stewart’s frustration with Gibbs’ focus on Hamlin led to blunt radio outbursts and his eventual exit to form SHR.
4. Dale Earnhardt Jr. vs. Michael Waltrip (DEI)
Once brothers in spirit — later divided by leadership struggles. Waltrip felt overshadowed, while Junior grew frustrated with DEI’s direction. It became an emotional rivalry, especially after Dale Sr.’s death reshaped the team.
3. Denny Hamlin vs. Kyle Busch (Joe Gibbs Racing)
Long-time teammates, polar opposites in personality. Hamlin’s composure clashed with Busch’s fiery intensity, and their late-race run-ins often made Joe Gibbs’ pit box a powder keg.
2. Kyle Larson vs. Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports)
Two generational talents under one banner — and neither wants to be second-best. Their battles in 2021–2023, especially at Watkins Glen and Fontana, exposed simmering tension. Larson’s aggressive style and Elliott’s loyal fanbase make this the defining modern-day Hendrick rivalry.
1. Jimmie Johnson vs. Jeff Gordon (Hendrick Motorsports)
The most iconic teammate rivalry ever. Gordon helped bring Johnson to Hendrick — then watched his protégé dominate the sport with seven titles. Behind the smiles was deep tension as Johnson’s success overshadowed Gordon’s legacy, creating years of silent rivalry in team meetings and on-track battles.
