By Victoria Beaver

Kyle Strickler and David Stremme wrecked while battling for second during the UMP Dirt Modifieds All-Star Invitational on Saturday night in Charlotte, NC, and the bad blood between the two drivers quickly boiled over into physical confrontation on the track.

Immediately following the crash, Strickler exited his car, walked around to Stremme’s window, and punched the driver repeatedly.

The feud has been developing for a while. Strickler drove the house car for Stremme’s Lethal Chassis company when it was established, but tensions have built since the two parted ways in 2015.

“There's definitely bad blood between us,” Strickler told FloRacing in an exclusive interview. “I used to work for him and drove for him when he first started his chassis company. I was the house driver for him. I got the short end of the stick when we split. I've gone on to do different things. 

"I'm sure it didn't sit well with him when we were as fast as we were and as dominant as we were in that first feature. With him starting right behind me there in the big race and us then driving off for the win uncontested. It definitely added fuel to the fire for the incident in the all-star race.”

Prior to the wreck, Strickler had just successfully pulled a slide job on Stremme in turn two to take second place. Stremme ran him into the fence on the back straightaway.

Here’s a look at the incident
between @DavidStremme and @Highsidetickler during the @SummitRacing Modified All Star race at @OneDirt #WSTC pic.twitter.com/U5GC4W1rys

— DIRTcar Racing (@DIRTcar_Racing) October 29, 2017

While Strickler doesn't condone fighting at the track, he explained that he just snapped because of the buildup throughout the season and because of multiple run-ins with his former boss in the past.

“I'm definitely not one for fighting at the race track,” Strickler said. “I'm usually 100 percent against that, but you can only take so much from a guy. Hard racing is one thing, but when he intentionally wrecks me like he did because he was out of options and tired of getting outrun it really pushed my buttons.”

Strickler’s victory in an earlier race Saturday ended in a dominant win of 1.3 seconds over second and 2.3 seconds over Stremme in third.

“In my book that's really crossing the line," Strickler said. "If I would've done something like run over him or tried to pull a really dirty move, I think that would've been one thing he could’ve been upset about. To tear both cars up and ruin an awesome race for the fans is what had me that upset.”

The fight was one-sided, as Stremme did not attempt to fight back from inside his cockpit. Stremme has not yet responded to the incident via social media.

“I think he knew that he was in the wrong," Strickler said. "He didn't expect me to get out and do that. I'm not known for doing that at all. I think he was more surprised than anything. But a man can only take so much — from the same guy anyway.”