LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Last lap contact between Kyle Busch and Joey Logano carried over to pit road following Sunday’s Kobalt 400 at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway leaving Busch bloodied as he was whisked away by NASCAR security.
Busch, a native of Las Vegas was upset with Logano after his No. 22 Pennzoil Ford made contact with Busch’s No. 18 M&M’s Toyota Camry as the field exited Turn 4. Busch’s car went spinning towards the entrance of pit road where it impacted the inside wall.
Busch coasted his battered machine halfway down pit road before exiting his car and walked down to Logano’s car near the entrance of pit road, where Busch walked up to Logano and threw a punch.
Busch was immediately tackled by members of Logano’s Team Penske crew, as Logano was restrained by his public relations representative.
“I got dumped,” Busch said. “Flat-out just drove straight into the corner and wrecked us. That’s how Joey races, so he’s going to get it.”
Logano said the contact was not intentional, as he appeared to lose the handling of his car after driving too hard into the last corner of the race.
“There wasn’t much talking, there was a lot of swinging,” Logano said. “I don’t know.
“I was racing hard there at the end with our Pennzoil Ford. Kyle and I usually race really well together. We usually never have any issues, and he tried to pin me down into the corner underneath Brad and we about crashed on entry, and then I was still trying to gather it up by the center and I was gonna spin out, so I’m trying to chase it up and he was there.
“It obviously wasn’t anything intentional, but obviously he thinks that, so, I don’t know, we’ll get by.”
The situation initiated after Brad Keselowski had some sort of mechanical failure, losing the lead to winner Martin Truex Jr. with two laps remaining. Unable to turn his No. 2 Miller Lite Ford or without brakes, Keselowski continued to slow forcing Busch and Logano to take abrasive actions to avoid him – but making slight contact in the process.
From there, Logano dive-bombed his entrance into Turn 4 and washed up into Busch, turning him.
Logano finished fourth, while Busch took 22nd, the last car on the lead lap.
Logano was prepared to talk to Busch about the incident, but obviously he wasn’t in a talking mood.
“I don’t run from conflict,” Logano said. “You just talk about it, but he wasn’t in a talking mood. He was in a fighting mood, I guess. I don’t know. Typically, you can handle this stuff like men and talk about it. You don’t have to fight, but whatever.”
“I’ve never had an issue with Kyle. Kyle and I have always raced really well together. We’ve never had an issue, but I guess that’s over.”
NASCAR beat reporter Jeff Gluck of JeffGluck.com captured the post-race altercation on video as it happened.
Video: Kyle Busch, Joey Logano fight after Las Vegas NASCAR race. https://t.co/c07iuqxPbj
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) March 12, 2017
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
