NASCAR’s second rendition of the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway and the 40th All-Star Race overall may not have featured the passing that we all crave, but it sure didn’t lack drama.
With only a couple of underdogs in the main event itself, there was the potential for a very quiet night from the dark horses of the sport.
However, under a full moon at a track with deep connections to NASCAR’s moonshiner roots, it didn’t take long for classic short track racing tempers to rear its head.
On the very first lap, Kyle Busch slid up the track while battling Denny Hamlin in turn. That opened the door for Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who said the limited number of laps ratcheted the level of urgency to gain track position.
Busch’s car appeared to get tight exiting turn 2, causing him to slap the wall.
Whether it was out of frustration with his 2024 struggles thus far, hitting the wall so early or whether Busch legitimately thought Stenhouse pinched him, “Rowdy” quickly showed his displeasure by turning Stenhouse the next lap, causing the No. 47 to overcorrect and careen into the outside wall.
Stenhouse, who appeared to have left plenty of room for Busch, saw his night on the track quickly come to an end.
However, his off-track plans were just getting started.
First, Stenhouse parked his car in Busch’s pit stall. He then climbed out and exchanged words with Randal Burnett (Busch’s crew chief) and Andy Petree (vice president of competition at RCR).
Following that, the warning was issued.
“We passed him,” Stenhouse told FOX Sports after being released from the infield care center. “He left the middle open there. You know, short race, you’re trying to get all you can get. We passed him and I guess he was mad. So I parked my car in his pit box. I figured he would do something like that. Maybe Richard [Childress, Richard Childress Racing owner] will hold my watch after the race.”
If you are unfamiliar with the watch reference, Childress once was livid with, ironically, Busch after a 2011 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Kansas Speedway in which Busch made contact with Joey Coulter, who was driving for RCR.
After the race, Childress reportedly told Austin Dillon to “hold my watch” and got into a scuffle with Busch.
And just like that incident, Stenhouse didn’t let his mouth do the talking.
Since North Wilkesboro has no infield tunnel, the Mississippian waited…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at …