McDowell spins Stenhouse after Charlotte post-race clash

NXTbets Pro | Published On: October 11, 2026

McDowell contact at Charlotte

Michael McDowell and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. clashed after Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway following several laps of contact during the final run. Earlier in the race, Stenhouse shoved McDowell off in Turn 1. Once the race ended, Stenhouse made post-checkered-flag contact with McDowell’s car, and McDowell responded by spinning Stenhouse on the cool-down lap. McDowell’s radio message captured the moment. “That guys trying to run me over. Holy smokes!” he said. McDowell finished 19th and Stenhouse finished 23rd.

Stenhouse altercation on pit road

The post-race exchange continued with the cars still rolling. McDowell and Stenhouse kept banging doors during the incident, while Riley Herbst lifted to avoid getting caught in the middle. The altercation ended on pit road, where the drivers talked things out. No punches were thrown during the confrontation. Stenhouse later climbed out of his car and walked to McDowell’s window before the scene ended.

McDowell, Stenhouse aftermath

Stenhouse later downplayed the episode as “not a big deal,” offering a calmer assessment after the contact-heavy finish.