We got fireworks two laps in.
The NASCAR All-Star Race just went green at North Wilkesboro Speedway, and the sparks are already flying.
On the first lap of the Cup Series race, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. made it three wide and sent Kyle Busch into the wall. And, well, if you know anything about the driver of the #8 car, you probably know that he wasn’t going to be happy about that.
Spoiler alert: He wasn’t.
As soon as Busch caught back up to the #47 car, he got into the back of Stenhouse and sent him into the outside wall, ending his day after just two laps and taking away any hope Stenhouse had of taking home the $1 million prize.
Caution on Lap 2. 👀 pic.twitter.com/6hix2jAvcj
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 20, 2024
Stenhouse clearly didn’t appreciate the payback, and as he drove his wrecked car back to the garage, decided to park it right in Kyle Busch’s pit stall.
.@StenhouseJr shows his displeasure on pit road. 👀 pic.twitter.com/BXo0iI2zV6
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 20, 2024
He then climbed up on Busch’s pit box to have a conversation with crew chief Randall Burnett and Richard Childress Racing VP Andy Petree, who could not have been more uninterested in what Stenhouse had to say.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. isn't happy with Kyle Busch. #HotPass pic.twitter.com/G4I7HxsHIz
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 20, 2024
And in an interview after the incident, Stenhouse hinted that things weren’t over between the two:
“I parked my car in his pit box, I figured he would do something like that.
Maybe Richard will hold my watch after the race.”
For anybody who didn’t get the reference, the “hold my watch” line was referring to Richard Childress once taking off his watch to punch Kyle Busch back in 2011.
"He got him in the headlock and just went to beatin' on his head." – @MartySmithESPN
For those who didn't get the "Hold my watch" reference between Richard Childress and Kyle Busch, here ya go.
Childress was fined $150,000 & placed on probation for the 2011 season. pic.twitter.com/7rZARMc7Aw
— Cory Smith (@RCorySmith) September 13, 2022
And with Stenhouse being stuck in the infield until after the race, with no way out of the garage area while cars are on the track, Stenhouse said he would “handle it” with Busch once the race was over:
How does Ricky Stenhouse plan to handle this deal with Kyle Busch?
"Watch after the race." pic.twitter.com/VFtA1aEawN
— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) May 20, 2024
Gonna keep an eye on this one…
