In a recent episode of his podcast, Stacking Pennies, NASCAR driver Corey LaJoie took the time to explain his role in the Lap 1 crash at Watkins Glen, which significantly impacted the races of multiple drivers, including Kyle Busch. The incident unfolded at the bus stop turn, where a fierce battle for positioning led to LaJoie making contact with Busch. This contact set off a chain reaction, causing Kyle Busch to spin and involve several others, including Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, and Denny Hamlin, in the aftermath.
The impact of the crash was severe for some, especially for Ryan Blaney, whose car sustained such damage that he had to retire from the race early, requiring his car to be towed to the garage. Despite the wreck, others, including LaJoie and Hamlin, managed to continue, although their races were compromised. LaJoie notably salvaged an eighth-place finish, while Busch, dealing with the aftermath of the collision, ended the race in a dismal 30th place.
On his podcast, LaJoie recounted the sequence of events from his perspective, explaining how the crash occurred and his involvement. Reflecting on his move during the race, LaJoie said, “I wanted to give the #8 some room coming off the wall and didn’t want to crowd them, but I ended up making contact with his left rear. There’s no excuse for that. My only goal on the first lap was to get in line without messing up anyone’s race, and then the exact opposite happened.” He also added humor to the discussion, saying, “There’s some kind of magnet between the #7 and #8 cars, unfortunately. Kyle’s definitely had the short end of the stick, and I’m just bracing myself for some payback.”
The podcast episode sparked plenty of reactions from fans, with some leaving scathing comments. One fan bluntly remarked, “Not his fault he has no ability.” Another, mocking the podcast’s title, wrote, “Stacking wrecked race cars.” Continuing the roast, another comment read, “Stacking DNFs.” Fans further criticized LaJoie’s driving with comments like, “He shows he can’t drive; he wrecks everyone but himself every week. That’s why he’s out of a ride,” and “At least he knows it’s a driver issue.” While some comments were critical, there were also those who acknowledged his accountability, with one fan saying, “He’s right. No excuse.”
Denny Hamlin, one of the drivers affected by the crash, shared his viewpoint on the incident as well. Hamlin’s #11 Toyota sustained significant damage in the pileup, which negatively affected his performance, resulting in a 23rd-place finish. Discussing the crash on his own podcast Actions Detrimental, Hamlin explained, “It looked like the No. 7, Corey, just hit the rumble strips wrong, and that sent him into the door of the No. 8, which caused the spin and then the stack-up behind them.”
This isn’t the first time LaJoie and Busch have had an on-track altercation. Earlier in the season, the two collided at Pocono, adding another layer of tension to their rivalry. With these incidents piling up, fans are eager to see if Kyle Busch will seek retaliation in the races to come.
