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NASCAR: Garrett Smithley, Joey Gase fire back at Kyle Busch over criticism

By Asher Fair

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 13: Garrett Smithley, driver of the #52 Honest Abe Roofing Chevrolet, drives during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on September 13, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 13: Garrett Smithley, driver of the #52 Honest Abe Roofing Chevrolet, drives during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on September 13, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) /
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Kyle Busch took aim at backmarkers following the NASCAR Cup Series playoff opener at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and Garrett Smithley and Joey Gase responded.

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch saw what could have been a top five finish turn into a 19th place finish in the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series playoff opener at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the South Point 400, following late contact with the #52 Rick Ware Racing Ford of Garrett Smithley.

After Busch and his team battled back from two laps off the lead lap following early contact with the wall to put himself in position to secure a solid result, his #18 Toyota sustained significant damage when he ran into the back of the #52 Ford, which two other cars passed without any issue.

The 34-year-old Las Vegas native was under the impression that Smithley, who was running 12 laps off the lead lap, would go high. Instead, he stayed in the middle lane, and by the time Busch got up behind him, there was no time for him to go low or go high to get around him.

Here is a video of the incident.

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As a result of this incident, which ultimately cost him roughly 15 positions (and thus 15 points in the championship standings), Busch took aim at backmarker drivers and discussed how “pathetic” it is that some of them are even allowed to compete in the Cup Series.

Busch went on to attend but completely blow off the post-race media session, which understandably involved him being asked several questions about the incident and how he will move forward from it.

However, it didn’t end there; two backmarker drivers, including Smithley, responded to Busch’s criticism.

Here is how Smithley responded.

https://twitter.com/GarrettSmithley/status/1173441267264450560

He also made the following remarks, according to NASCAR’s Zack Albert.

"“He’s never been in the position we’ve been in, so he doesn’t know how that goes. That’s the way I see it.”"

MBM Motorsports’ Joey Gase, meanwhile, made the following remarks, according to Albert.

"“Any day if he wants to switch cars, I’d be happy to.”"

After Busch ripped both drivers on Twitter following the release of these quotes, they both issued went on to share their stories and how they got to the Cup Series.

First of all, here is what Busch responded with.

Here is Smithley’s statement.

https://twitter.com/GarrettSmithley/status/1173720044435582977

Here is Gase’s statement.

https://twitter.com/JoeyGaseRacing/status/1173766047213785094

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NASCAR Cup Series playoff action is scheduled to resume this Saturday, September 21 at 7:30 p.m. ET with the Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Virginia. This race is set to be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network, and it is a race that Kyle Busch won last year. In fact, he has won two of the last three races at the track.

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