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JGR Martinsville radio drama: "You got to be (expletive) kidding me"

Joe Gibbs Racing makes up half of the remaining Chase teams, so it's not entirely surprising that tempers flared between the title-contending teammates.

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Photo by: NASCAR Media

Race winner Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Joe Gibbs Racing Chase drivers: Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth
Race winner Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Matt Kenseth, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Matt Kenseth, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

As Jimmie Johnson cruised to his 79th career victory at Martinsville, three JGR teammates were locking horns in a heated battle for the runner-up spot. 

With just over 90 laps to go, Johnson passed Denny Hamlin for the race lead. He quickly fell into the clutches of teammates Matt Kenseth and Kyle Busch. But there was no teamwork between these title rivals. 

Fox's weekly radioactive segment on NASCAR Race Hub highlighted the radio transmissions between all three teams as they battled amongst themselves, allowing Johnson to skip away. 

"Be smart with these guys here," No. 18 spotter Tony Hirschman warned Busch. He was the third JGR driver in line as Kenseth attacked Hamlin. Here's what was said from that point onward:

Matt Kenseth: "I'm trying to do the right thing, but he's not giving me a lot of options."

Kyle Busch: "So the No. 11 just (expletive) fading gracefully and we all have to (expletive) fade gracefully. Now we're going to have more (expletive) on our (expletive) back bumper."

Mike Wheeler, No. 11 crew chief: "We're not cutting anybody any slack."

Matt Kenseth: "Man, if I'm there, he's got to give it to me. If I'm in there, he's got to give me the lane."

Kyle Busch: "Can see he never (expletive) learned where the nose of his car is. How about every time I (expletive) look in any direction, you block me. You (expletive)!"

Kyle Busch: "God we are the best (expletive) team combination there is out there."

Kyle Busch: "We're (expletive) letting the No. 48 win this race."

Kenseth and Busch failed to overtake Hamlin or each other, but Brad Keselowski managed to pass all three and take second for himself. Meanwhile, they were relegated to third, fourth and fifth.

"Denny did exactly what he needed to do to get the finish, but holy cow. I wish the (Green Bay) Packers had him for a lineman," quipped Kenseth after the checkered flag.

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