NASCAR: Kyle Busch surprised, ‘expected more’ from former KBM drivers

Kyle Busch says he was surprised and “expected more” out of former Kyle Busch Motorsports NASCAR Truck Series drivers William Byron and Darrell Wallace Jr. after they scuffled with him in this past Sunday’s race at Watkins Glen International.

Throughout this past Sunday’s Go Bowling at the Glen at Watkins Glen International, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch was involved in two separate scuffles that ultimately resulted in him being retaliated against.

Both scuffles happened to involve former Kyle Busch Motorsports NASCAR Truck Series drivers.

Busch was involved in an early scuffle with Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron, who drove for Kyle Busch Motorsports full-time in the 2016 season, and a late scuffle with Richard Petty Motorsports’ Darrell Wallace Jr., who drive for the team full-time in the 2013 and 2014 seasons.

Busch got irritated after Byron after attempting to pass him for second place going into turn one of the eight-turn, 2.454-mile (3.949-kilometer) Watkins Glen International road course in Watkins Glen, New York early in the race.

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As a result, before stage one ended, Busch sent Byron off the track in the chicane.

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Directed to retaliate by crew chief Chad Knaus, Byron ran into the back of Busch’s #18 Toyota. However, Busch brake checked Byron, and more damage ended up being done to Byron’s #24 Chevrolet.

Before stage two ended, Busch spun Wallace out in the carousel, although that was not known at the time Wallace spun. When the two drivers got back together in the race’s third and final stage, they bumped and banged down the front straightaway before Wallace ultimately won that battle by spinning Busch off into turn one.

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But Busch stated that he was “surprised” and “expected more” out of these two drivers considering the fact that they were racing their former boss.

Here is what Busch had to say about these separate scuffles with his former employees, according to NASCAR.

"“It’s kind of surprising that you get into it with two former [Kyle Busch Motorsports Truck Series] drivers because you would kind of expect a little bit more or different than you would from some other competitors out there. So, I guess I just didn’t quite get that.”"

He “didn’t quite get” the fact that they weren’t going to let him completely take advantage of them?

To his credit, Busch did say that he is willing to move forward, and Wallace backed his claim.

Here is what Wallace added.

"“What’s there to be afraid of? We’re out here to all race and go for the checkered flag and drivers who have been around the sport are obviously (set) in their ways. ‘You gotta do this, you gotta do that, you gotta do this’ to get their respect. I’m out there running my own race, running for my life, running for my career.“Frustrations were high and whatnot, but we walked out of there and had a good conversation. We were kind of pissed off at each other. I would say something to piss him off and vice versa. But at the end of the day, we shook hands. Hell, he finished 11th. I’m not a threat to him. But at the same time, I wanna get my respect.”"

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The fact that Wallace acknowledged that he isn’t a threat to Busch, however, could be somewhat of a warning sign to the driver of the #18 Toyota, because it illustrates that he is the only one with anything to lose if he messes with Wallace again. On the surface, however, it appears that everything is good between all parties involved.

Byron was willing to move forward as well and reiterated the claim that he made when Team Penske’s Brad Keselowski tried to wreck him in practice for the July race at Daytona International Speedway, and that claim is that he likes to talk these kinds of things out after they happen.

"“It’s better to talk about things than just hear things through the media and think that that’s how you should go about it. I like to talk about it, especially to understand where they’re coming from. Obviously, I’ve only been in the sport for two years at this level, so I’m trying to learn what’s right or code to go by.”"

Were you surprised that two of Kyle Busch’s former NASCAR Truck Series drivers raced him the way they did in this past Sunday’s race at Watkins Glen International, or do you expect to see them race him like they would anybody else, and vice versa?