Kyle Busch: “Come down here every year to find out when and where I’m going to crash and what lap I come out of the care center.”
On Sunday, NASCAR opened the 2023 season in Daytona Beach, Florida. The 2.5-mile of Daytona International Speedway hosted the famed Daytona 500.
Kyle Busch has won everything in NASCAR, except the Daytona 500. This year, he started his 18th Daytona 500 with a new team, Richard Childress Racing.
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With just four laps to go, the top eight ran single file around the inside lane. Kyle Busch pulled out of line from 3rd place. His teammate, Austin Dillon shoved him to the race lead on the outside lane.
With 2 to go, Daniel Suarez spun, bring out a caution. Kyle Busch picked the outside lane as his teammate picked the inside lane. It was part of the plan.
As they went green, Dillon delayed his launch. That let Kyle Busch drop to the inside, placing three Chevrolets in a row on the inside lane.
However, they ran bumper to bumper around the top and Logano grabbed the race lead. The inside lane was struggling to build momentum.
Byron lined up the rear bumper of Dillon, shoving him down the backstretch. They had a massive run but they were closing quickly on Busch. Dillon checked up slightly, not to run over his teammate. As Byron continued pushing, Dillon was sent sideways across the track.
Busch was still in it. He restarted third row on the outside for the second overtime attempt.
As they took the white flag, Joey Logano noses ahead. Kyle Busch ran three wide with Larson and Stenhouse Jr for 2nd. Seconds later, Almirola shoved Travis Pastrana. Pastrana got loose, he slid down the track, hooking Kyle Larson.
The wreck was far from done. As Larson went nose first into the outside wall, he clipped Bubba Wallace. As Wallace slide, he collected AJ Allmendinger who then collected Kyle Busch.
Busch was running 4th on the last lap. However, as he ran backwards off turn two, his next stop was the infield care center, again…
Daytona 500 Results: February 19, 2023 (NASCAR Cup Series)
Kyle Busch comments after Daytona 500 crash
“I was hoping to have a teammate restart where I could get down to the bottom,” Kyle Busch told Bob Pockrass after exiting the infield care center.
“Then, when I got to the bottom, we could get locked up. The No. 24, No. 8 and No. 3 would all work together and push.”
“It looked like it was kinda working. But, we go too much separation off two. I tried to back up to get to them and when they hit me, it got me really squirley. Austin checked up, then the accordion happens. Everybody gets to running over everybody.”
“I think this is the first time I led lap 200. So, I wish it was 1998 rules.”
“I’m used to it. Just, come down here every year to find out when and where I’m going to crash and what lap I come out of the care center.”
“Who won? I don’t even know who lucked into it?”
The No. 8 drivers was notified that Ricky Stenhouse Jr was in victory lane.
Busch concluded, “Well, there you have it.”
His best Daytona 500 finish is 2nd which he claimed in 2019.
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