Kyle Busch has faced a challenging 2024 season. The two-time Cup Series champion, who has won 64 Cup races and achieved five or more wins in a single season on five occasions, is yet to secure a victory this year. This comes as a surprise, considering his 20-season win streak and his consistent playoff appearances since 2012. Unfortunately, both of these remarkable streaks are in jeopardy, largely due to a pair of run-ins with Chase Briscoe.
Busch came close to making the playoffs twice, finishing in second place at Daytona and then again during the final regular season race. On both occasions, it was Briscoe who stood in his way. Once again, Busch’s chance to keep his winning streak alive was cut short by the #14 driver, leading to Busch expressing disappointment in the aggressive nature of today’s racing.
The Kansas race seemed like the perfect opportunity for Busch to finally break through. Starting third, Busch had a strong run, and in the final stage, he managed to pass Ross Chastain to take the lead. However, as he approached Briscoe, who was running 26th at the time, the #14 car refused to go a lap down. Briscoe, fighting to stay on the lead lap to keep his playoff hopes alive, didn’t yield to Busch. As Busch tried to pass from the outside, the two cars made contact, with Busch’s #8 car hitting the wall and spinning out. This ended his race in 19th place.
After the race, Busch voiced his frustration about not being given space to pass. He said, “I’m sure he was racing to stay on the lead lap and racing whoever was in front of him. Give you a lane, and let the leaders race, and I wasn’t getting that, so I tried to force my hand to get that and get to his outside, and when I did, just for some reason, whatever happened, gave all the air in all the wrong place and spun out.”
However, Briscoe, who entered the race 7 points below the playoff cutline, defended his actions. He acknowledged that he raced hard but claimed he gave Busch enough room. Briscoe explained, “When he got to me, I was making sure it was tight. I wasn’t just gonna pull over and give it to him, right? We are still racing for staying on the lead lap. I felt like I left him a car width and a couple inches, and these cars are so sensitive, especially at this track. If you are off to someone’s right rear, you just get so loose. Looked like that’s what happened.” Briscoe eventually finished 24th, increasing his deficit to -25 points in the playoff standings.
The incident sparked a debate about racing etiquette. While Busch was competing for a win, Briscoe was fighting to keep his playoff chances alive. The question remains whether Briscoe should have let Busch pass. Busch certainly felt he deserved more room on the track, commenting on the current state of racing: “It doesn’t matter what I expect. I don’t think anybody gives anybody anything anymore. It’s all take, take, take.”
This isn’t the first time Busch has spoken out about the lack of respect in today’s NASCAR. He’s been vocal about the aggressive driving he sees, particularly when it comes to racing hard and making risky moves. One recent example is the Richmond race, where Austin Dillon wrecked Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin in a desperate bid to secure a win. Busch has long been an advocate for clean racing, despite his reputation as “Rowdy.” In the Daytona race, Busch chose not to wreck Harrison Burton on the final lap, even though he had the chance. Reflecting on that race, Busch said, “Besides just flat-out wrecking him, there was nothing else I could do.”
Last year, Busch criticized the behavior in the Cup garage after Denny Hamlin intentionally wrecked Ross Chastain during the spring race at Phoenix. He expressed his frustration, saying, “We have completely lost any sense of respect in the garage between the drivers at all. Nobody gives two (expletive) about anybody else. It’s just a problem where everybody takes advantage of everybody as much as they can. We’re all selfish, granted. But there was an etiquette that once did live here.”
While some argue that intentional wrecks are a part of NASCAR’s history, Busch disagrees. Throughout his two-decade-long career, he has witnessed many legends—Mark Martin, Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, and Dale Jarrett—uphold a code of respect and sportsmanship in racing, a code he believes is now fading.
What are your thoughts on how racing has evolved in terms of aggression? Should hard racing be celebrated, or has it gone too far? Share your views in the comments below.
Kyle Busch Fires Shot Against Chase Briscoe After Being Denied Another Chance to Save His Legacy
