NASCAR racing is a passion-driven sport. Along with the competitive spirits flying high, the emotions do get the better of the race car drivers from time to time. We have seen flying helmets, door panels, and even punches being thrown in the garage area. Although most brawls and fights are often captured by the camera, there’s no video evidence of an altercation between Richard Childress and Kyle Busch.
Well, it’s almost a legend that is being talked about in the NASCAR garage when back in 2011, Rowdy was roughed up by the veteran team owner. If we are to go by the reports, Childress approached Busch after the Truck Series race in Kansas, placed him in a headlock, and threw multiple punches. Back then, no one could’ve imagined in their wild thoughts that the two would one day partner up at Richard Childress Racing.
Fast forward to 2023; this became a reality, and while they did have their run-ins, both Busch and Childress had to make peace with each other. Although the 79-year-old veteran had been fined $150,000, he had to break the ice in a sit-down with Rowdy before he landed at RCR.
Here’s how Richard Childress and Kyle Busch squashed their beef
Back in the day, Busch would get on the nerves of Richard Childress as he would go on a rampage, banging doors against RCR drivers. Before the Kansas incident, Rowdy was involved in a similar incident with Kevin Harvick at Darlington. Busch’s antics on the racetrack caused Harvick to wreck into his teammate Clint Bowyer’s race car. Therefore, seeing him bump into a young driver, Joey Coulter, on the cool-down lap was the tipping point for the RCR team owner.
However, with the 2-time Cup Series star out of his seat at JGR following M&M’s exit from NASCAR, RCR wanted to sign him. The only hiccup was that no one knew whether or not Busch had moved on from the 2011 incident. This is where Richard Childress knew he had to break the ice between him and Busch. “Austin hooked us up; we could do it, I said. I forgot which one of us said. Kyle, I said, start with that’s history. We’re going to put all that behind us, and we won’t ever bring it up again.” Childress said this on the Dale Jr. Download.
Well, one thing is certain, both Busch and Childress are passionate about racing cars. This did factor in repairing their bond; also, they had matured over the period to not let the past hamper a good partnership. “That’s the way we are; we put it to bed, and to me, it’s in history; learn from history. I think his saying was, I think we’ve grown up a lot. We both have a different attitude and thinking today.” The veteran owner added.
Richard Childress certainly takes care of his drivers against any retaliation from the rival camp. Call it destiny or life coming to a full circle moment; Childress came out in support of Kyle Busch after Ricky Stenhouse Jr. punched Rowdy in the face after the conclusion of the All-Star race at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. steered clear of the #8 car after the All-Star race
Well, nobody likes to load up their race cars on the first few laps of the race. This is something that happened between Kyle Busch and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. at the All-Star race, as the Hyak Motorsports driver got dumped into the wall by Rowdy. After the conclusion of the race, Busch went on to have a word with Stenhouse Jr., and this is when he landed a clean right hook. Next, what followed was total chaos.
The beef didn’t end there; Stenhouse Jr. claimed that he might crash the #8 Chevy at Charlotte. This is where Childress had to step in. “I’ve put the word out. I got it where I hope it gets to him (Stenhouse) that if he does… I’m kind of old for fighting, but I’ll have a different style of fighting, and I’ll whip his a–… Ricky Stenhouse said that he was going to wreck the #8 car at Charlotte. Well, when I see him, I’m going to tell him if he does. I’m older, but I’ve just changed my style of fighting. He’ll carry a rough past beat.”
This only goes to show how the relationship between the two has progressed despite their run-ins in the past. Moreover, it also goes to show the picking on RCR drivers is still off limits.
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