During the NASCAR Cup Series night race at Daytona on August 24, Kyle Busch dominated the front of the field for much of the event. As the race neared its conclusion, Busch led the pack across the start-finish line on the white-flag lap, with his former teammate Christopher Bell closely trailing him. Given their history together, it was anticipated that Bell, driving the No. 20 car, might give Busch, in the No. 8 car, a significant push, potentially setting Busch up for a victory or at least an opportunity to make a decisive move.
However, the anticipated scenario did not materialize. Instead, Harrison Burton, receiving a substantial push from Parker Retzlaff, took advantage of the momentum to leap to the lead during the final lap around the high-banked Daytona circuit. Burton then made a bold block on Busch as they exited the last turn, a move that ultimately determined the outcome of the race. The 23-year-old Burton secured his first career Cup Series victory and, more notably, achieved the 100th win for the prestigious Wood Brothers Racing team.
Although Burton’s block on Busch was seen by some as questionable due to its proximity to the double yellow line, it was deemed legal. It was a strategic maneuver aimed at securing the win, and it succeeded. In his post-race interview on NBC, Busch expressed his frustration, suggesting that the race could have ended differently if not for Burton’s block. Busch remarked, “Once they got in front with as little energy as there was with the lack of cars that there were, it was hard to make anything happen from Turn 4 to start-finish. Besides just flat-out wrecking him, there was nothing else I could do.”
These remarks echoed Busch’s recent experiences at Richmond, where a similar situation unfolded. On August 11, during the Richmond race, Busch’s RCR teammate, Austin Dillon, was involved in controversial incidents on the final lap. Dillon drove aggressively into Turn 3, making contact with Joey Logano’s car before spinning Denny Hamlin into the wall. Dillon managed to slide past Tyler Reddick to win the race, but NASCAR penalized Dillon for his actions, stripping him of the win’s benefits, including a playoff berth. Dillon’s appeal was unsuccessful, and a final decision on the matter was expected by August 26 from the Final Appeal Officer, Bill Mullis.
While Busch raced cleanly and chose not to wreck Burton, he missed out on a prime opportunity to extend his record streak of consecutive years with at least one win to 20. Known for his extensive success, Busch has built one of the largest fan bases in NASCAR.
During the Daytona weekend, Busch, along with his wife, had a memorable interaction with a fan. Driving through the streets, Busch spotted a truck adorned with multiple No. 8 stickers, and he decided to follow closely behind. “We’re drafting. It’s in Daytona,” Busch remarked as he tailgated the fan’s truck. The fan, upon noticing Busch, moved to the left lane. Busch then honked his horn, rolled down his window, and gestured enthusiastically at the surprised fan, who responded by rolling down his window and greeting the driver.
Busch’s playful interaction with his fan concluded with him shouting, “Yeah boy!” The moment exemplified Busch’s connection with his supporters and highlighted his presence both on and off the track. His genuine engagement with fans adds to the excitement of NASCAR and contributes to the sport’s overall appeal.
The post Kyle Busch Does Daytona His Way & Doesn’t Wreck Driver to Win Race Like Teammate appeared first on Classic Sport.
