Drivers Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr. exchanged fresh barbs—even pulling Earnhardt’s fans into it—ahead of Sunday’s Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich.
Their spat started with Busch responding to outrage over his decision to smash his trophy, a specially painted guitar, in Victory Lane after winning last weekend’s Nationwide race in Nashville, Tenn.
Busch, the 24-year-old Las Vegas native who nurtures his reputation as NASCAR’s bad boy at every opportunity, said he was merely acting like some rock stars and wanted to give the guitar’s pieces to his crew members.
On Friday, Busch met with reporters and acknowledged that it “certainly drew the ire of the fans” but that he didn’t regret doing it and “thought it was fun.”
But he couldn’t leave it at that.
“A lot of people hated it, and I guess those are the ones with 88 tattooed on their arm,” referring to Earnhardt’s car number. “I’ve got no issues with Junior; it’s his fans that are crazy, but that’s all right.”
Now Busch had taken a swipe at NASCAR’s most popular driver for the second time in three weeks. After Hendrick replaced the 88 team’s crew chief, Tony Eury Jr., in late-May because of Earnhardt’s slump this season, Busch remarked, “It’s never Junior, it’s always the crew chief.”
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So Earnhardt—the defending winner of Sunday’s race in Michigan—found himself having to respond to Busch again Friday.
“I think the guy is just trying to direct a lot of people to his website or to his column and generate ad revenue,” Earnhardt said.
“My fans will handle themselves, they’re good people,” he said. Then he cautioned Busch: “Anyone who would be calling them out and stirring them up is causing problems not only for himself but everyone else in the sport.”
Love him or hate him, there are many who maintain that Busch is a huge asset for NASCAR when the sport is struggling with lower attendance, television ratings and corporate sponsorship amid the economic woes. Los Angeles Times
Jimmie Johnson, the reigning three-time Cup champion and one of the least controversial drivers in the sport, isn’t surprised by his former teammate’s actions.
Johnson said Busch’s behavior reminds him of Hall of Famer and three-time Cup champion Darrell Waltrip, who earned the nickname “Jaws” during his driving career.
“You know, certain people just like to stir things up,” Johnson said. “Kyle, I’m sure, at points, regrets stirring up the pot. But, in other times, I think he thrives on it.
“By focusing on Junior alone, yeah, he had the fans on him (before), but now he’s going to start up a whole new wave and, who knows, he’s probably loving it.”
Older brother, Kurt Busch, a former Cup champion and often the object of boos himself, said his brother will weather this latest storm just fine.
“He’s having a great time with where he is in the sport, with what his persona is,” the elder Busch said. “He’s having fun with it. ... It’s always on the cutting edge — is this acceptable or isn’t it acceptable? The Busch brothers are always on the cutting edge of that.” The Associated Press
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