Ricky Stenhouse Jr. remains irritated with Kyle Busch after their altercation.
Kyle Busch and Ricky Stenhouse Jr (Via IMAGO)
Before the All-Star race, the JTDG Racing team, which received direct qualification due to their victory in the 2023 Daytona 500, had high hopes for the day. However, the dreams of the two-time Xfinity series champions were shattered on the first lap when they collided with each other at the start of the race.
Stenhouse Jr. sought revenge immediately after the race ended. He approached Kyle Busch and, during their heated confrontation, punched him in the face. The drama lasted for a minute before everyone, including team members, intervened and separated them. After the confrontation, the driver of the No. 47 Chevy spoke to the press and expressed confusion as to why Busch was so angry with him regarding the initial collision.
He also pointed out that Kyle Busch had allegedly spoken badly of him in the past, as well as in recent incidents. Stenhouse Jr. suggested that Busch’s frustration with his own poor performance could also be a contributing factor to his anger.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. spoke with @JamieLittleTV after punching Kyle Busch. #NASCAR #AllStarRace pic.twitter.com/NeHQFkjjS4
Discussing his team’s expectations for the race weekend, Stenhouse Jr. mentioned that he and his team came in with high hopes. However, the clash with Kyle Busch ruined everything for him.
The fight between the two drivers after the race could have been avoided if Ricky Stenhouse Jr. had the opportunity to walk away. However, he was unable to do so and being stuck only increased his frustration, leading him to retaliate against the veteran driver.