Bob Pockrass
FOX NASCAR Insider
NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. — The discuss going into the NASCAR All-Star Race was about “smooth” — as in how smooth tires Cup Collection groups can use to placed on a great race.
However the discuss after Sunday night time’s race will embrace about something however smooth — a wild melee between Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Kyle Busch that adopted a dominating race victory by Joey Logano.
Punches thrown between Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Kyle Busch after All-Star Race
Busch took out Stenhouse two laps into the race in retaliation for contact on the opening laps at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The observe — a throwback to NASCAR’s extra grass-roots days — would not have a tunnel so drivers who do not end a race have to attend till after the race to go away.
That meant Stenhouse waited for Busch and after a brief dialog, threw a proper hook at Busch’s face. Members of each groups received concerned till Busch left the world a few minute later.
Any penalties probably will probably be introduced Tuesday. NASCAR usually lets drivers throw punches however it’s going to decide whether or not any crew members get disciplined.
All of the whereas, Logano celebrated profitable $1 million.
“That was superior. … What an unbelievable [car]. It was so quick,” Logano mentioned.
Takeaways from the struggle and the night time:
Stenhouse Follows By means of
Stenhouse indicated he was going to do one thing after the race. He mentioned he would deal with it, and when requested by FOX Sports activities how he would deal with it, he mentioned: “You possibly can simply watch afterwards.”
The JTG Daugherty Racing driver felt Busch took his frustration of a troublesome season out on him early within the race.
“He left the door vast open, I went by means of the center, nearly had him clear, the 34 [of Michael McDowell] sort of ran up the observe and all of us sort of touched there — nothing main,” Stenhouse mentioned. “Then Kyle tried to wreck me in [Turns] 3 and 4 after which lastly did wreck me in [Turns] 1 and a couple of. … He simply did a poor job on the beginning after which was mad about it — I feel that is the best way his season has gone.”
After the accident, Stenhouse parked his automobile in Busch’s pit stall.
“I parked it there as a result of I figured Kyle would do one thing comparable,” Stenhouse mentioned.
When Busch received to his hauler after the race, Stenhouse was ready, and Busch instructed Stenhouse he wrecked him first and shortly afterward, Stenhouse threw the punch.
‘He would not run in addition to he used to’ – Ricky Stenhouse Jr. after struggle with Kyle Busch
Busch’s Pre-Struggle Ideas
Busch, as he walked to his hauler, defined why he was pissed off with Stenhouse and indicated the frustration of the season was constructing.
“First lap of the race, we do not even have water temp within the automobile but and we’re wrecking one another off of [Turn] 2,” Busch mentioned. “I’m bored with getting run over by all people. However that is what all people does — all people runs over all people to move all people.”
After they had been separated, Stenhouse indicated it wasn’t over.
Busch replied: “I do not [expletive] care. I suck simply as unhealthy as you.”
NASCAR’s Tire Experiment
NASCAR experimented with a softer tire as groups had two units of softer tires and two units of their common tires. The softer tires did not present as a lot fall-off as hoped (which might then require drivers to handle tires), and Logano was in a position to do your entire race on his two units of pink tires.
The following quick observe on the schedule the place these tires might be used is at Loudon, New Hampshire.
“I do not know what it might be like at Loudon,” Logano mentioned. “There’s a number of falloff for somewhat bit after which it stays the identical. What would it not be like at Loudon the place there was extra falloff there up to now with an older floor and all that? What would it not be like there? I do not know. I can not reply that. I do not suppose anybody can.”
Denny Hamlin completed second to Logano, whereas Chris Buescher was third, Kyle Larson fourth (after qualifying fifth for the Indianapolis 500) and Ryan Blaney was fifth.
“You have to be a lot quicker to get round [someone],” Hamlin mentioned. “Hat’s off to the observe and NASCAR and Goodyear for giving it a attempt, and definitely hopefully we realized one thing right here for future quick tracks.”.
FINAL LAPS: Joey Logano earns the checkered flag at North Wilkesboro Speedway in NASCAR All-Star Race
Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR for FOX Sports activities. He has spent many years masking motorsports, together with over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting Information, NASCAR Scene journal and The (Daytona Seashore) Information-Journal. Comply with him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
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