Kyle Busch recently revisited the crash he was involved in last year at World Wide Technology Raceway, commonly known as Gateway, while discussing his ongoing struggle to secure a NASCAR Cup Series victory. The incident, which happened near St. Louis during a tense battle on the 1.6-mile oval, highlights both the intense competition and the frustration Busch has endured during his current winless streak.
Details of the Collision at Gateway Raceway
In the closing stages of Stage 2, with 10 laps remaining, Busch and fellow driver Kyle Larson were locked in a fight for seventh place when their cars collided on Lap 140. Busch suffered severe damage, forcing him to exit the race early and finish 35th out of 36 competitors. Larson, meanwhile, managed to back his No. 5 Hendrick Chevrolet into the wall, with only minor damage, and ultimately recovered to finish tenth.
Reflecting on the accident after it occurred, Larson suggested that the contact might have been avoidable. He analyzed the moment in detail, considering his role in the crash and the circumstances leading up to it. Larson said,
“I always do a really good job at looking back at accidents that I get in and whether it be that I caused it or I didn’t cause it. I still try to pinpoint what kind of fault I had in it.”
He further explained that if he had not touched Busch’s car to attempt a side draft, the frustration that followed might have been avoided, stating,
“Yeah, I look at that one, if I didn’t barely touch his quarter panel to get to a side draft he wouldn’t have gotten upset and started running into me down the straightaway and then crowd me into [Turn] 1.”
Larson denied any aggressive intentions, saying,
“I wasn’t going into 1 to race him and have a dick-measuring contest. I was just trying to make it into the corner.”
Larson took some responsibility but ultimately viewed the incident as part of racing dynamics, commenting,
“I look at it as probably more my fault there but into one I know I’m the guy that spun but I don’t feel that part was at all my fault. It’s just racing and he got frustrated and I don’t know, I’m sure he’s not too frustrated with me right now.”
Kyle Busch Shares His Perspective on the Crash
Recently, Busch was asked to recall the collision and what stood out most from that moment. He described Larson’s approach and his own reaction during the race. Busch stated,
“From what I recall, Kyle (Larson) caught me from a ways back and it’s hard to pass with these cars, obviously,”
reflecting on the difficulty of overtaking on the track.
Busch continued,
“So I guess he felt it when he got to me, he needed to nerf me a little bit and get me up out of the groove.”
Expressing his views on how the situation escalated, he admitted,
“I guess I just wasn’t too happy with that and crowded him a little bit getting into Turn 1, he lost his race car and we both ended up crashed. I guess that’s part of the course.”
Kevin Harvick Weighs in on What Caused the Collision
Days after the race, Kevin Harvick provided his thoughts on the incident during his Happy Hour podcast, offering insight into the tensions between Busch and Larson. Harvick characterized the initial contact as a product of Busch’s growing frustration, noting,
“I viewed that as a little bit of frustration from Kyle Busch with Kyle Larson and pretty quickly.”
He observed that the contact didn’t appear severe, remarking,
“It didn’t look like a lot of contact to me.”
Harvick went on to contextualize Busch’s mindset, explaining,
“I think that pressure is ramping up on Kyle Busch. I’ve been there. Those scenarios where he hasn’t won in a year, 19 years in a row, and now he’s looking to extend that win streak.”
Harvick detailed challenges Busch faced, including multiple setbacks with his pit crew, saying,
“He’s had a lot of terrible things have happened with the pit crew. The pit crew hasn’t done a great job at all.”
Summarizing Busch’s temperament, Harvick added,
“Kyle’s had a few of these moments with a few guys on the racetrack, so his fuse is short, but it’s short for a reason, and that’s because the cars aren’t running good and they’re not getting the finishes. There’s not many people that are as good as Kyle Busch at what they do.”
A Parallel to a Past Incident With His Brother Kurt Busch
The crash between Kyle Busch and Larson brought back memories of a 2007 NASCAR Cup All-Star Race clash involving Busch and his older brother, Kurt Busch. Both siblings were contenders for the $1 million prize at Charlotte Motor Speedway, but their on-track confrontation ended their chances and eliminated them from the race.
In that race, Kyle’s attempt to push Kurt backfired, resulting in a collision that saw both drivers crash out, with Kurt finishing 19th and Kyle 20th in the 21-driver field. Harvick, interestingly, was the winner of that event and secured the million-dollar reward.
Kyle Busch Reflects on Lessons Not Fully Learned
Addressing the earlier sibling incident, Busch admitted that it should have taught him a lesson about aggressive driving and its consequences. He said,
“I should have learned my lesson on how crowding somebody will crash somebody because my brother did that to me in 2007 at Charlotte.”
He acknowledged mistakes on both sides during that race, stating,
“We both made mistakes in that race, but we certainly came out on the worst end of it.”
Despite that history, it appears the lesson had faded over time, considering the similar occurrence during last year’s battle with Larson. This year’s Gateway race carries added importance as it marks the track’s first-ever NASCAR Cup playoff event, offering Busch a chance to refocus amid ongoing challenges.
Busch’s Winless Streak Casts a Shadow Ahead of Gateway Race
Aside from reflecting on past collisions, Busch faces mounting pressure due to his significant winless streak. Entering the upcoming race at Gateway, he has not claimed a victory since 2023, marking his longest stretch of 84 consecutive Cup races without a win. This ongoing drought adds to the intensity and scrutiny surrounding his performance, increasing the stakes for the playoff contest at WWTR.
