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There always seemed to be an uneasy peace between Dale Earnhardt and Ricky Rudd during their NASCAR glory years in the 1980s.

But there was a sense that a fuse was burning slowly behind the scenes and the fireworks it was attached to could explode at any time.

That moment came on Oct. 17, 1988 during the Holly Farms 400 at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

The two clashed angrily with their cars on the track and then with strong words and name-calling in the garage area afterward. The incident triggered the most ill will seen on NASCAR’s major tour that season.

The trouble started on the 361st of the race’s 400 laps as Earnhardt and Rudd dueled for the lead.

Rudd’s Buick appeared to make contact with Earnhardt’s Chevrolet while pulling ahead in Turn 3. Earnhardt tagged Rudd back in turn 1 as Lap 362 began, causing him to spin and bringing out the yellow flag.

For the restart, NASCAR officials ordered Rudd and Earnhardt to line up behind the other drivers on the lead lap—Geoff Bodine, eventual race winner Rusty Wallace, Bill Elliott and Phil Parsons. The penalty essentially ended the victory hopes of Rudd and Earnhardt on the .625-mile track, although their cars appeared to be the strongest in the race. Earnhard finished sixth, Rudd seventh.

Few fans paid attention as Wallace wheeled to Victory Laane. Most eyes were on the garage area, where a crowd was gathering around Rudd and Earnhardt, both flush-with fury. Dale had finished sixth, Ricky seventh.

“Dale went into the corner on that 361st lap looking into his mirror and he overdrove it,” charged Rudd. “I got around him clean. My car was working good down low and that’s where I was running. He turned to the bottom of the track like he didn’t even know I was there. He wrecked himself!

“Then, he comes back and spins me in Turn 2, knocking my front end out of line. Clearly, that was a dirty move. NASCAR then moves us back and costs us a chance to win. We got beat by a cheap shot.

“If he wants to play this game, then he can forget the championship this year. We have nothing to lose.

“I’m not going to be like Geoff Bodine and take his crap.”

(At the time Earnhardt was battling Elliott and Wallace for the Winston Cup points championship. Elliott eventually won with Wallace finishing second and Earnhardt third).

Earnhardt, like Rudd, voicing some not-so-nice words and names, denied intentionally ramming Rudd.

“He turned me sideways in Turn 3,” said Earnhardt. “Then I got into him. I didn’t mean to. Even if I had, I didn’t hit him any harder than he hit me. I backed up so he could go on around (spin).

“Did they penalize Ricky when he spun me out the last time in Turn 3 with four laps to go? No!

“He’s the one that got rough. I wasn’t worried about the points race. I was trying to win this race.”

Turns out Rudd was to have the last word a few weeks later during the annual NASCAR awards banquet at the Waldorf Astoria in New York. Rudd was among a group of drivers already onstage when Earnhardt was introduced and walked out.

Said Rudd: “Folks, I want you all to know each of us had nice shiny shoes until Earnhardt showed up backstage and walked all over us.”

Earnhardt could only blush and smile sheepishly.

The audience roared.