Aric Almirola and Kyle Busch at Martinsville Speedway - NASCAR Cup Series (Photo: Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images)
Aric Almirola issues warning to Kyle Busch during NASCAR Playoffs (Video)
Shane Walters
NASCAR drivers get into it at Martinsville Speedway
On Sunday night, NASCAR returned to the short track of Martinsville Speedway. It was race number one in the round of 8. Only 4 drivers will remain eligble for the NASCAR Championship after races at Martinsville, Texas and ISM Raceway.
The schedule and format produces drama. The 0.526-mile oval, also produces drama. Together, it’s a match made in NASCAR heaven.
Late in the race, Denny Hamlin put the bumper to Kyle Busch as they ran inside the top five. Busch then turned left down the straight and ran into his right rear down the straight away.
Hamlin and Busch are teammates. The contact was minimal but Busch was already heated. That’s when Aric Almirola came into the picture…
With just 139 to go, Aric Almirola looked to the inside of Kyle Busch into turn three. They make light contact as Busch came across his nose.
They get locked together off turn four as Busch pushed him down over the inside curb. Both were turned sideways in front of the field.
Jimmie Johnson came into the scene with nowhere to go except into the left front of Almirola. Almirola and Johnson were both out of the race due to the impact.
Ryan Preece and Matt DiBenedetto are also collected. Kyle Busch escaped with left front fender damage but was able to finish the race.
Now, Aric Almirola has a warning for Kyle Busch. Similar to the one he gave Joey Logano around this time last year.
Aric Almirola on Kyle Busch after Martinsville Speedway
“He chopped me getting down into (Turn) 3,” Aric Almirola told NBC Sports after exiting the infield care center.
“I tried to squeeze in front of him in the spring on one of the restarts and he about wrecked me in Turn 3. It was returned to him and he didn’t like it. He ran me up over the curb and we got together, and ruined our day,” Almirola added.
Aric Almirola is no longer a part of the NASCAR Playoffs. Kyle Busch on the other hand is a championship favorite and has been all season.
“Frustrated. We’ve got three more weeks, and I’m going to make it hell for him,” Almirola concluded.
Aric Almirola and Kyle Busch Martinville Speedway Video