Kyle Busch has talked with Jimmie Johnson since the incident at Daytona

Jimmie Johnson spun Kyle Busch during the Duels at Daytona

Jimmie Johnson stated his 2019 Speedweeks campaign with a bang. He returned to victory lane for the first time since 2017 in the very first race.

However, the win didn’t come out of ideal circumstances. Jimmie Johnson and Paul Menard tangled heading into turn three. It created a red flag and a 17 car pile up.

Menard came down an inch or two, Johnson came up. They met in the middle and Menard went for a spun across the front bumper of the #48.

Shortly after, the rain came and Jimmie Johnson was declared the race winner.

Kyle Busch at Daytona International Speedway
Kyle Busch at Daytona International Speedway

Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch in Duel 1

In Duel 1 at Daytona on Thursday night, Jimmie Johnson got into the left rear of Kyle Busch as he tried to tuck in behind him. He sent him for a spin across the backstretch.

It was close to the same incident from the race last week. Only, instead of being at the front of the field, it was at the back. At the same time, this one was 100% on the fault of Jimmie Johnson as Kyle Busch did not come down the track.

As Busch spun across the infield, there was no contact with the wall of the grass. However, all the flaps blew off the race car as he slid sideways across the track.

“Damn it! I don’t know what happened there. Please apologize to the #18. I’m assuming that’s on me,” Johnson stated over the radio.

During the race, the message was relayed to Kyle Busch.

“Tell him I don’t want to hear it. That’s twice. He’s done the same thing in two races,” Kyle Busch responded to his crew during the race.

The team has repaired the back of the #18 car and the hood flaps that broke off in the spin. Busch will not be going to a backup car for the Daytona 500.

Kyle Busch signs autographs for NASCAR fans
Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Chocolate Bar Toyota, signs autographs during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 61st Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 9, 2019 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Kyle Busch on the incident with Jimmie Johnson

“He texted me late at night,” Kyle Busch told Fox Sports on Friday afternoon.

“It was just, ‘Hey, sorry! That was totally my mistake. I just misjudged it.’ “

“It is what it is. There’s nothing that’s going to change it now. It’s just unfortunate for our team, not being able to run and finish the race how we wanted to. To see if we could better our starting spot from qualifying.”

“We’ll start in the back. We’ll just have to try and come through there and do what we can.”

Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson
Daytona Crash Video

More

Kurt Busch says Jimmie Johnson was in a ‘no zone’ on the left rear of Paul Menard

Jimmie Johnson walks through the crash with Paul Menard

Duels at Daytona – Race 1 Results: February 14, 2019

Clash at Daytona Results: February 10, 2019

Links

Daytona International Speedway | NASCAR

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