After an eventful weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway, twelve drivers are advancing to the next round, starting on September 29 at Kansas Speedway. This three-race round wraps up at Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 13, where the top eight will then battle for a spot in the Championship 4.
Charlotte has often been the scene of intense racing and heated rivalries, such as the infamous clash in 2010 between Joe Gibbs Racing teammates, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch. With just 10 laps left in a non-points race, Hamlin and Busch were running first and second. Busch, in the #18 car, made a move to overtake Hamlin (#11), but Hamlin blocked him, causing Busch to hit the wall. A few laps later, Busch’s luck worsened when he blew a tire and crashed. While Hamlin finished in the top five, Busch had to settle for a disappointing 14th place.
Busch didn’t hold back his frustration, threatening Hamlin over the team radio. When asked about his outburst in a post-race interview, Busch didn’t apologize. In fact, he doubled down, telling ESPN:
“It was the heat of the moment. That’s who I am, and that’s my expression, and I’m not going to apologize. It’s freedom of speech.”
He added, “I was frustrated. It’s something people say often. Take it for what it’s worth. I wasn’t joking, but I wasn’t actually going to do it. How would I kill him? With my good looks?”
Busch’s fiery personality and fierce competitiveness have long been part of his NASCAR identity. However, he’s missed the playoffs this year for the first time since 2012. The two-time Cup Series champion currently ranks 25th in the standings. Though out of playoff contention, Busch still has seven more races this season to try and break his winless streak.
The drama doesn’t end there for Busch. Earlier this year, at the All-Star event at North Wilkesboro Speedway in May, he got into a fistfight with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. from JTG Daugherty Racing. Stenhouse Jr. allegedly started the brawl and was hit with a $75,000 fine. Additionally, two of his crew members were suspended for two races, and his father, Ricky Stenhouse Sr., a former Sprint car driver, was suspended indefinitely from NASCAR.
Recently, NASCAR insider Bob Pockrass provided an update on the situation. Stenhouse Sr. has been reinstated, meaning he’s now allowed back in the garage and on pit road during race weekends.
“Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s dad, who was suspended from NASCAR following the Kyle Busch fight at the All-Star race in May, has been reinstated, which means he can be in the garage/pits during race weekends,” Pockrass shared in a post on X.
Like Busch, Stenhouse Jr. remains winless this season and, like Busch, missed the playoffs, unable to secure enough points for a spot in the next round. Both drivers will be looking to turn their seasons around in the races that remain.
