Michael McDowell<\/a>\u2019s actions can be questioned, but his explanation for the fight with Daniel Suarez<\/a> on Friday was what NASCAR fans have waited to hear.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s emotions,\u201d McDowell said. <\/span><\/p>\n Amen.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s just the way it is,\u201d McDowell said.<\/span><\/p>\n Not exactly. <\/span><\/p>\n It was that way in NASCAR all the way to the 1990s before the sport gentrified to placate sponsors. The trade-off for money was losing one\u2019s soul.<\/span><\/p>\n The sport seeks to reclaim its spirit and return to those rougher ways. That doesn\u2019t mean going all the way back to the untamed \u201cWild West\u201d days. But it\u2019s OK for a driver to show their anger. And many have in recent years.<\/span><\/p>\n The fight at Phoenix between Daniel Suarez and Michael McDowell \u2014 during qualifying of all things \u2014 illustrates the heightened tensions this season.<\/span><\/p>\n Joey Logano<\/a> predicted two weeks ago at Atlanta Motor Speedway that the new rules package, which is intended to tighten the field, \u201cis going to cause probably more wrecks and more tempers are going to fly and more drama is going to be there.\u201d<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Other than Daytona, there haven\u2019t been the wrecks \u2014 last week\u2019s Las Vegas race had cautions only for the two stage breaks<\/a> \u2014 but the tempers are rising.<\/span><\/p>\n NASCAR\u2019s season of drama could be beginning. And that could be a good thing for fans, who want to see more emotion on and off the track.<\/span><\/p>\n Suarez was upset with McDowell on Friday for getting in his way during the first round of qualifying. That slowed Suarez, who failed to advance. Suarez will start 28th. McDowell starts 27th.<\/span><\/p>\n After the round, Suarez went to McDowell\u2019s car to express his displeasure. McDowell, upset because he felt Suarez tried to wreck him, shoved Suarez to trigger the scuffle. <\/span><\/p>\n They soon became entangled before Suarez threw McDowell to the ground. McDowell\u2019s crew chief, Drew Blickensderfer, rushed in and shoved Suarez onto the hood of McDowell\u2019s car. Suarez tried to kick McDowell while still on the car. <\/span><\/p>\n Suarez said afterward that McDowell\u2019s actions hurt him for the race. Suarez\u2019s team now has a later pick for pit stalls, which are selected in order of starting position. And Suarez will have to start deeper in the field in what is a short race, lasting 312 miles. <\/span><\/p>\n Qualifying poorly and having a bad pit stall pick hurt Logano at Atlanta. His stall was between the pit stalls of Alex Bowman<\/a> and Martin Truex Jr<\/a>. Logano lost at least 10 spots on each of the first two pit stops.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n In a short race, that could be hard to overcome. Plus, drivers talk about the challenges of the \u201cdirty air\u201d of running behind a competitor. Starting deeper will provide a greater challenge for Suarez.<\/span><\/p>\n So it was understandable why he was upset when he headed to McDowell\u2019s car on pit road.<\/span><\/p>\n This is what NASCAR has sought and tried to foster since the \u201cBoys, have at it\u201d years to now (NASCAR did not call either driver to the hauler Friday). Fans complain that drivers are too weary of upsetting sponsors by their actions. That mattered little to McDowell or Suarez.<\/span><\/p>\n