NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. (AP) — Ricky Stenhouse Jr. threw a proper hook at Kyle Busch, and immediately, an in any other case boring All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway had NASCAR followers buzzing heading into subsequent weekend’s marquee Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte.

Busch had wrecked Stenhouse on the second lap of the $1 million race Sunday evening in a transfer that appeared like retaliation for a way Stenhouse had raced him earlier. Stenhouse drove his broken Chevrolet to Busch’s pit stall and parked it, and with no option to get out of the observe whereas the race was happening, stewed in road garments for hours till Busch arrived at his hauler.

That’s when Stenhouse, after a quick dialog, threw a proper hook on the driver of the No. 8 Chevrolet, setting off a quick melee that concerned members of every driver’s crew — and Stenhouse’s father. The brawl was finally damaged up, however not earlier than extra phrases had been exchanged from either side and Stenhouse vowed, “I’m going to wreck you at Charlotte.”

“Deliver it,” Busch replied. “I suck as unhealthy as you,” implying that each drivers should not having nice seasons.

The antics may end in a suspension for Stenhouse, the 2023 Daytona 500 champion, different crew members and probably his father. Busch additionally may face a penalty if NASCAR determines that he intentionally induced the wreck.

Stenhouse’s fury was evident the second he parked in Busch’s pit stall, then climbed the pit stand ladder and had phrases with members of his crew. As Stenhouse climbed down and walked away, his automobile needed to be towed from pit street.

“I parked it there as a result of I figured Kyle would do one thing comparable,” Stenhouse stated.

Later, throughout an interview with Fox Sports activities, Stenhouse indicated he would confront Busch after the race.

After which he did.

Stenhouse, wearing yellow shorts and a grey T-shirt, waited for Busch within the infield and confronted him face-to-face earlier than unleashing a punch. Safety jumped in and pulled Stenhouse away, falling backward over a tire, whereas Busch likewise wound up on the bottom. Stenhouse’s father, Ricky Sr., acquired into the fracas and appeared to take no less than one in every of Busch’s punches.

Stenhouse may very well be heard yelling “Dad!” quite a few occasions, however he couldn’t get to his father.

“First lap of the race, we don’t even have water temp within the automobile but and we’re wrecking one another,” Busch stated. “I’m uninterested in getting run over by everyone. However that’s what everyone does: everyone runs over everyone to move everyone.”

Stenhouse clapped again at Busch: “Return and watch the replay. I didn’t contact you. Not as soon as.”

Stenhouse took one other shot at Busch after the struggle, saying he had bad-mouthed him ever since Stenhouse as soon as wrecked him at Daytona, after which went on to say that Busch is simply pissed off as a result of “he doesn’t run in addition to he used to.”

Busch, a two-time Cup Sequence champion, is thirteenth in factors and has but to win a race this season.

The All-Star Race itself lacked any drama as soon as Kyle Larson arrived by helicopter from Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the place the 2021 Cup Sequence champion had certified fifth for his Indy 500 debut earlier within the day.

Pole sitter Joey Logano led all however one of many 200 laps to take residence $1 million. It was one more instance of NASCAR’s struggles to search out the best quick observe setup regardless of permitting using a number of variations of tires at North Wilkesboro.

“You couldn’t move,” runner-up Denny Hamlin stated. “I’d lose a bit of little bit of air there, and I’d attempt to give my automobile a break after which run at (Logano) once more. Hats off to the observe, NASCAR and Goodyear for giving it a attempt. Hopefully, we discovered one thing right here for future quick tracks.”

Then he smirked and added, “However no less than we had an thrilling struggle in the long run. That’s one thing to speak about.”

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