While just about everybody was recovering from the epic battle for the victory (and subsequent photo finish) between Christopher Bell and Chase Briscoe, there was some more drama happening in the middle of the pack, which extended beyond the checkered flag.

As the laps wound down in Sunday’s 400-mile contest at Charlotte, Michael McDowell and Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. were locked in an intense battle for position around the top-20, which included a couple of optimistic moves, and at one point, resulted in contact with the outside SAFER Barrier for McDowell.

Things settled quickly and the driver of the No. 71 Delaware Life Chevrolet Camaro went on to finish in 19th, while Stenhouse faded to 23rd.

That wasn’t the end of it, though.

After the checkered flag was displayed, Stenhouse still wasn’t very happy with McDowell and wanted to make sure that he was aware of that fact, so, on the cooldown lap, down the backstretch, Stenhouse drove up beside McDowell and doored him multiple times to show his displeasure.

McDowell, of course, took exception to that, and followed Stenhouse into Turn 3 and promptly spun the No. 47 Beyond Resilience Chevrolet Camaro around.

“I don’t know why the guy is trying to run me over,” McDowell said over the radio. “Holy smokes.”

Michael Fisher, spotter for McDowell, then said: “Just be by the car guys; the No. 47 just took our left side off and then turned himself. Just be by the car.”

Neither McDowell nor Stenhouse spoke to the media post-race.