10 from '08: Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Play Bumper Cars Twice at Richmond

With NASCAR's awards banquet on Friday, Dec. 5 (stop by for the live blog!), here's a look at 10 from '08 -- ten of the NASCAR season's best moments.

"Oooohhh he turned 'em! Oooohh he turned 'em! No! No! No! No!" was the call Darrell Waltrip made in the FOX Sports booth as he watched young Kyle Busch -- who already wasn't the most well-liked driver in NASCAR fan circles -- spin fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. back in May at Richmond International Raceway.

The wreck, with three laps to go in 400-lap race, sent Earnhardt Jr.'s No. 88 Chevrolet spinning sideways and into the turn 3 wall after Kyle Busch bumped the left side of the No. 88. Unfortunately for Busch, he wasn't able to keep the lead he temporarily gained with the incident after Clint Bowyer snuck past on the low side.



The memories of that incident wouldn't be forgotten, however, by Mr. Earnhardt Jr.

It was, without a doubt, the heaviest dose of drama that the young NASCAR season had seen up to that point as its newest star (Busch) wrecked the most popular star (Earnhardt Jr.) while going for the win at one of NASCAR's most exciting tracks.

As always in racing, there's a back story for the rivalry that reared its head at Richmond. Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 88 was in his first season with Hendrick Motorsports after filling the ride made vacant by Busch just a year before thanks to his parting of ways with team owner Rick Hendrick. The move was made by Hendrick to alleviate some team chemistry issues brought by Busch and to make room for Earnhardt Jr. in the HMS stable.

Needless to say, Busch had a slight chip on his shoulder from the move.

The next saga in the chapter between Earnhardt Jr. and Busch took place at a point in the season when it didn't really matter for Busch, but the message was sent loud and clear by Earnhardt Jr: It may take months for payback, but it will certainly happen.

The scene again was Richmond but this time in September, just prior to the Chase for the Sprint Cup.



The wreck didn't effect Busch's standing as he entered the Chase, but looking back on it now one can't help but realize it was essentially the beginning of the end for Busch's championship hopes as he would finish poorly in the next three races to completely eliminate any title shot.

Perhaps that message of payback and redemption was sent a little more loud and clear than anyone in the NASCAR world could have imagined, or perhaps not.

Regardless, both incidents brought some good ol' fashioned drama into the NASCAR world -- something no fan can ever get too much of.