Watch as Kyle Busch crashed Ricky Stenhouse Jr on lap two of the NASCAR All-Star Race; That led to punches flying after the race
NASCAR is currently racing for $1 million at North Wilkesboro Speedway. And there’s already drama on lap 1 of the race!
Watch the Kyle Busch vs Ricky Stenhouse Jr video posted below.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr took Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch three wide through the middle on lap one. They ran out of room in a hurry and Busch bounced off the outside wall.
On lap two, Busch drove it deep into the corner. He tagged Stenhouse Jr in the left rear and hooked him into the outside wall.
Stenhouse Jr picked up major damage. He limped it to the pit lane and parked his car in the pit stall of Kyle Busch.
Stenhouse Jr climbed from his car and climbed the latter of the team’s pit stall. He had a brief word with Busch’s crew chief before climbing back down.
Update: NASCAR penalty report after the fight at North Wilkesboro
NASCAR then told the driver he needed to walk to the infield care center.
“We knew there was going to be aggression. We didn’t know it was going to be on lap two,” Clint Bowyer stated from the FOX booth.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr comments on Kyle Busch
“We passed him. He left the middle open there,” Ricky Stenhouse Jr told FOX.
“You know, it’s a short race. You’re trying to get all you can get. We passed him and I guess he was mad.”
“So, I parked my car in the pit box. I figured he would do something like that.”
Stenhouse Jr concluded, “Maybe Richard will hold my watch after the race.”
Years ago, when Kyle Busch was driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, he wrecked one of Richard Childress’ cars. The next day, the team owner famously asked Kyle Busch to hold his watch. When he did, Childress reportedly punched Busch in the face.
Now, Kyle Busch drives for Richard Childress Racing.
Richard Childress likens Kyle Busch to Dale Earnhardt
Update: Punches thrown after the race
After being crashed on lap two, Ricky Stenhouse Jr was forced to wait around on the infield until the race was over. There’s no tunnel to leave the infield during the race.
When Kyle Busch climbed from his car after the checkered flag, Stenhouse Jr approached him. Things got heated as they talked it out.
Stenhouse Jr: “You wrecked yourself. I didn’t touch you.”
Kyle Busch responded: “Really”
Stenhouse Jr: “You hit the fence and then you hit me.”
Busch: “I don’t believe it.”
Stenhouse ended the conversation: “Go back and watch it.”
Then, Stenhouse Jr took a swing at Busch’s head. He then wrestled Busch to the floor of the hauler lift gate.
Crew members from both sides jumped into the scene.
RCR team members stated, “Get off this truck! Be gone!”
Update: NASCAR penalty report after the fight at North Wilkesboro
Ricky Stenhouse Jr comments after the post-race altercation
“Kyle and I have always raced each other really hard. Back to the Nationwide Series when we were competing for wins, week in and week out. Never really had any issues,” Stenhouse Jr added.
“Then, I wrecked him one time at Daytona and he’s kinda bad-mouthed me ever since then. We get along with each other okay, outside the race track. I talk to him quite a bit.”
“I’m not sure why he was so mad that I shove it three wide. But, he hit the fence and kinda came off the wall and ran into me.”
“When I was talking to him, he kept saying that I wrecked him. Definitely, built up frustration with how he runs his mouth, all the time about myself.”
“But, I know he frustrated because he doesn’t run near as good as he used to. I understand that.”
“I was excited for the rest of the night. And, he ruined it. Being stuck in here definitely doesn’t help the frustration. If there was a tunnel I probably would have been home watching the end of that.”
“If we want to do a charity match, I would do that. Other than that, I don’t have a whole lot for him.”
Kyle Busch comments after the altercation
“It’s the first lap of the race. We don’t even have water temp in the car yet and we’re wrecking each other off of two,” Kyle Busch told Bob Pockrass.
“I’m tired of getting run over, by everybody. But, that’s what everybody does. Everybody runs over everybody to pass everybody.”
Update: NASCAR penalty report after the fight at North Wilkesboro
Kyle Busch crashes Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Ricky Stenhouse Jr punches Kyle Busch
Links
Kyle Busch | Ricky Stenhouse Jr | North Wilkesboro Speedway | NASCAR
