AVONDALE, Ariz. – Kurt Busch hashed out a gutless performance during Sunday’s Can-Am 500 at ISM Raceway, but the Stewart-Haas Racing driver fell shot of earning a shot at a second Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series title after a series of obstacles during the penultimate race of the season.
Busch raced smart on Sunday, but a Lap 136 penalty while leading the field changed the complexion of the race for the driver of the No. 41 Haas Automation / Monster Energy Ford Fusion.
NASCAR penalized Busch for passing the pace car under caution. Busch rebutted insisting the pace car was driving slower than pit road speed, and that’s how he passed the car as ducked off the track.
NASCAR didn’t care and held Busch for one lap – sparking a fire from inside the cockpit as a sizzling driver had to fight relentlessly to get back on the lead lap. Busch had to wait for two cautions later for him to get back on the lead lap.
Getting back on the lead lap, Busch used strategy late in the race to propel back into the lead, but a Lap 267 restart saw his championship 4 hopes comes to a spinning halt.
Denny Hamlin challenged Busch for the lead, but his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota washed up into Busch’s car at the exit of Turn 2. The contact between both cars later captured Elliott’s No. 9 Chevrolet, causing major damage to all three cars and promoting a Lap 268 caution.
Busch rejoined the race after repairs but retired to the garage after completing just 272 o the 312 laps after exceeding NASCAR’s damaged vehicle policy. The 32nd place finish ended his chance for a title berth in next weekend’s finale at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway on Nov. 18.
“Terribly sorry, guys,” Busch told his crew over the radio after the incident. “I didn’t get the job done.”
After being released from the infield care center, Busch put the blame on Hamlin, stating he “came out of nowhere and cleaned him out.”
“Erik Jones was on my inside when we restarted, and I just wanted to make sure I didn’t slip through the new one and two. If I could have been to somebody’s outside off two, then I thought we had a good shot of maintaining the lead and I just got cleaned out,” added Busch.
“I flat out got cleaned out. I thought it was the right decision on staying out. I’m not gonna look back on it. If the rule earlier in the race on the pit road of passing the pace car is black and white, I just need to get brushed up on my rulebook.
“I didn’t gain anything by doing what I did other than just digging from behind all day. It was a really good year for our Haas Automation Ford. Thanks to Monster Energy and everybody that put their talent into that 41 car. I just didn’t get the job done to get us to Homestead.”
Tony Stewart, who co-owns Busch’s car with Gene Haas was one of the first to embrace Busch in the garage and the 2017 Daytona 500 winner gave some insight of his conversation with the three-time Cup champion.
“He was just helping me out as a driver, owner. That’s what Tony Stewart does,” sounded Busch. “He’s a good individual that knows how to pat somebody on the back and create clarity from the outside on what went on because I only see what happens from the inside of the car.”
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
