NASCAR Cup Series: Kyle Busch discusses battle with Kyle Larson

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch discussed his battle with Chip Ganassi Racing’s Kyle Larson in the NASCAR Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway this past Sunday.

Following his intense battle with Chip Ganassi Racing’s Kyle Larson on the final lap of this past Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race, the Overton’s 400, at Chicagoland Speedway, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch gave his take on Larson and the respect that the two drivers have for one another.

With one lap to go in the 267-lap race, Larson, who was running in second place in his #42 Chevrolet, approached the rear of Busch’s #18 Toyota heading into turn one of the four-turn, 1.5-mile (2.414-kilometer) Chicagoland Speedway oval in Joliet, Illinois.

Busch did not lead the race until he led lap 209, but he had led ever since then up until the last lap. Larson dove to the inside of Busch in turn one and cut him off on the exit of turn two. In doing so, the two drivers made contact, which caused Busch’s car to make slight contact with the wall.

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The two drivers drove side-by-side down the back straightaway one last time before Larson once again made a move to attempt to pass Busch on the inside. This time, Larson cleared Busch, but Busch had more momentum going into turn three.

Busch drove up behind Larson and bumped the rear of his car, which sent Larson’s car into a spin and sent Busch’s car into the wall for the second time on that lap. Larson was eventually able to regain control of his car, but not before Busch had gotten past him with far more momentum even though he had to do everything he could possible do to keep his car off the wall for the rest of that lap.

With a flat front right tire, Busch took the checkered flag in front of the rest of the field, while Larson finished in second place 1.875 seconds behind.

Here is a video of the end of this race.

Here is what Busch had to say about the respect that he and Larson have for one another, according to NBC Sports.

"“See, the reason why Larson and I get along, and the reason why Larson and I can have a relationship and have respect for one another is because at Bristol I bumped him with five to go, he had a chance to come back and get me back. (Larson) didn’t get there. At Chicago, he bumped me, gave me an opportunity to come back for him, right?“Brad (Keselowski) and I can’t absolutely stand one another, hate each other, because every time he runs into me, he wrecks me and I’m out, right? Like Watkins Glen that time. There was not a chance for rebuttal.“The reason why that was a great race to the end with him and (Marcos) Ambrose is because they battled it out. But every time he just runs over me and wrecks me so there’s never a chance for that rebuttal. There’s never that camaraderie with racing. It’s just wrecking.”"

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Will Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson experience an intense battle in the closing laps of another race at some point before the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series season comes to a close? If so, which driver will come out on top? Will Busch’s thoughts on the matter change if he ends up not being the winner?

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