Kyle Busch didn’t like the NASCAR penalty at Kansas; Adam Stevens sets him straight

Kyle Busch thought the NASCAR penalty was frivolous and had more to do with comments he made last week on the rules package

Harvick was dominating the race at Kansas Speedway. But, with just 89 laps to go he pitted under green for what he thought was a flat tire or a loose wheel.

Alex Bowman was handed the lead. With 70 to go, Kyle Busch was on the bumper of Alex Bowman for the race lead.

However, Busch struggled to get back. He could run cars down from a mile back but when he got to them the nose would wash out. Busch would then fall back and make another run. Each time, he couldn’t get the lead.

With 49 to go, Bowman was now leading by 4 seconds with green flag pit stops were underway. Nearly everyone pitted, except the leaders.

Kyle Busch, Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin at Kansas Speedway - NASCAR
Kyle Busch, Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin at Kansas Speedway – NASCAR (Photo: Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images)

Kyle Busch
Kansas Penalty

Alex Bowman led the 7 cars who were still on the lead lap to the pit lane. The pit crew got it done and Busch came out with the lead.

Until he didn’t…

As the No. 18 caught up to the pace car, a call came down from the tower. Busch was now the race leader but he was penalized for rolling through too many pit stalls on his way to his box.

The penalty was amplified on this run. 22 cars took the wave around. They were the cars that pitted under green before the caution came out.

After serving the penalty, Busch went from restarting in the lead to restarting 13th. However, he had to start from the tail behind all the lap down cars.

The pit stop rules allow drivers to clip three boxes, yours included. Kyle Busch drove through five. His left side tires clipped box 25, 24, 23 and 22 on his way to his own stall, the 21st box.

There may have been some confusion from the cockpit due to stall #22. The box directly behind Busch was vacant.

Either way, it was surely NASCAR rule violation and a valid call.


Kyle Busch reacts to the Kansas pit road penalty

Kyle Busch got the news over the crew radio.

Crew: “You drove through too many boxes on entry.”

Kyle Busch: “I swear, anytime you say anything you get shit handed to you. But yet, others do it and it ain’t for them.”

Adam Stevens (#18 crew chief): “I counted the boxes bud. We damn sure drove through four boxes coming in.”

Kyle Busch was under the impression that NASCAR nabbed him with a penalty due to comments he made about the rules package last week.

Related: Kyle Busch knocks the rules package after Dover; NASCAR responds

To be clear, the rules at Dover were a totally different rules package than they ran at Kansas.

Kyle Busch was on pace to set a NASCAR record. He came into Kansas with 11 consecutive top-10 finishes. That ties a record with Morgan Shepherd, which was originally set in 1990.

At Kansas, Kyle Busch had an opportunity to break that record had he scored 12 consecutive top-10’s. However, contact late in the race with Clint Bowyer and Erik Jones forced him to the pit lane under green due to a tire rub.

Busch finished in 30th at Kansas Speedway. He also lost the NASCAR championship lead to Joey Logano after the event.

More

Kansas Speedway Race Results

Kyle Busch knocks the rules package after Dover; NASCAR responds

Dover Race Results: May 6, 2019

Kyle Busch says the cars are ‘dangerously fast’ at Dover this weekend

Kevin Harvick mirrors comments from Kyle Busch on the rules package

Links

Kyle Busch | Kansas Speedway | Dover International Speedway | NASCAR

Categories

Tags