NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. — What do you get when you put 20 drivers on a short track, with no points on the line, for a shot at $1 million?
Tempers.
The 2024 NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway provided no shortage of drama from the opening lap on Sunday (May 19). It started on lap 1 when Ricky Stenhouse Jr. split the gap between Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin in turns 1 and 2. The resulting three-wide situation forced Busch into the outside wall heading down the backstretch.
One lap later, in the same spot. There was contact. This time, it was fully intentional.
Busch sent Stenhouse sliding into the outside wall in turn 2 in retaliation. The front end of the No. 47 was heavily damaged, ending Stenhouse’s race before it could really begin.
Stenhouse was none-too-pleased with the incident, and decided to park his now-destroyed Chevrolet in the pit stall of the No. 8 before he climbed out and left it.
“I parked it there because I figured Kyle would do something similar,” Stenhouse said after being released from the infield care center.
Stenhouse also climbed up Busch’s pit box after getting out of his car and told Randall Burnett, Busch’s crew chief, to tell Busch “I’ll see him afterwards.”
As North Wilkesboro has no way of exiting the track except the backstretch crossover gate, Stenhouse was stuck inside the track until the conclusion of the 200-lap event. Stenhouse said that he would deal with Busch after the race was over.
Just how would he deal with it?
“Just watch afterwards,” Stenhouse said with a coy smile.
So we did.
And boy did he.
Busch exited his car after finishing 10th and began walking immediately to his trailer. When he got there, Stenhouse was already waiting for him, as expected.
Busch argued that Stenhouse squeezed him into the wall, while Stenhouse argued that Busch actually hit the wall first before coming down and making contact with the No. 47.
“Go back and watch [the replay],” Stenhouse told Busch. “I did not touch you. Not once.”
“I don’t believe it, but whatever makes you happy,” Busch retorted.
Stenhouse repeated to go back and watch it.
Then he swung at Busch, and it was on.
Stenhouse punched Busch, and then was pulled away right as he was about to go for Busch again. Both Stenhouse…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at …