“That’s Childish”- Despite Getting His Victory Stolen in Dale Jr’s Series, Victim Driver Chooses High & Mighty Road Instead of Retaliation (Exclusives)

As the 2023 Cars Tour season reached its penultimate race at the Tri-County Speedway, drivers had visions of a grand finale. Little did anyone imagine the fireworks that unfolded, especially the series co-owner, Dale Earnhardt Jr. The pits, usually backstage, became the main stage when tempers flared and fists flew. An unexpected brawl erupted, overshadowing the asphalt showdown. Law enforcement had to intervene to quell the chaos, and now, two drivers find themselves on probation as we gear up for the explosive season finale.

The stage was set for a thrilling race at the Speedway. Ashton Higgins, sitting comfortably in P3 in the overall standings, seemed to be on the path to a successful outing. He even dominated the first pro-late model practice session. However, things took a drastic turn on Saturday’s race day, leaving Higgins with a hefty pending fine of $500. It is clear that the drama is far from over and in an exclusive interview with EssentiallySports, Higgins made vows regarding the next time he and his rival would face off on the asphalt.

Dale Earnhardt Jr’s racing series star despite heartbreaking loss slams childish tactics

With just two laps to go, Gavan Boschele made a daring move, diving to the inside of the track in turns 1 and 2. Higgins, determined to hold his line, didn’t yield. Frustrated, Boschele nudged the No 9, initiating a tense standoff. As they reached turn 3, Boschele’s frustration got the best of him, ramming into Higgins’ car, causing it to spin out and crash into the outside wall, ending his hopes for a win. Higgins didn’t hold back and vented his frustration by smashing the windshield of Boschele’s #25. Chaos ensued as an intense brawl erupted, right there in the pit lane.

In the high-octane world of motorsports, there’s an unspoken but universally understood code: if you dish out a bump, be prepared to take one in return. Retaliation is part and parcel of this hot-headed arena, where a wrecked race can ignite a fiery kind of competition with drivers constantly checking their mirrors. However, it appears that Higgins is looking to rise above this fray and set a new standard for clean racing.

During the exclusive interview with EssentiallySports, Higgins laid out his principles. “No, I don’t see a point in that. Ultimately, he was the one who was driving it, wasn’t his crew, guys. There’s no point in punishing his crew guys for what he’s done. He’s reached out. We’ve talked. I’m definitely going to race him differently now. I’ll race him a little harder now, but I’m definitely not going to go out there and wreck the guy.”

He dismissed the practice as “That’s childish, and there’s no point in tearing up race cars like that.” When further questioned about the tensions that had simmered between him and Boschele, Higgins revealed, “He reached out and told me he was sorry. That was pretty much it. I tried to empathize, thinking if I had been in his shoes at his age, would I want someone to approach me the same way? We talked, and it went well. I respect him for reaching out; that’s more than most would do.”

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Amid claims of lost respect and a cutthroat atmosphere of motorsports, the 21-year-old presents a glimmer of optimism. His perspective highly contrasts with Kyle Busch‘s earlier-season debate on the deteriorating sense of respect among drivers. Busch, a seasoned NASCAR veteran, lamented, “We have completely lost any sense of respect in the garage area between drivers.”

“That’s where the problem lies. Nobody gives two sh*ts about anybody else. It’s just a problem where everybody takes advantage of everybody as much as they can. We’re all selfish, granted, but there was an etiquette that once did live here,” the RCR ace exclaimed.

However, the exclusive interview became witness to an outlook that offers a fresh perspective as Higgins declared, “Hopefully, we can both learn from it, move on from it, and both finish the year out from here. There’s still some tension. I feel like I definitely still owe him one. Not saying I’m just gonna go wreck him, but you know, I’m definitely gonna change the way I race him. Definitely gonna be harder than I race anybody else.”

In a fitting conclusion, he stated, “But you know, that’s part of the respect thing. Respect is earned, and I feel like it’s there, and we’ll be fine.” In a place where respect has been questioned, Higgins’ commitment to learning and moving forward, even in the face of tension, is a testament to the sportsmanship deeply engraved in a sport cherished by millions.

Read More: “It Won’t Happen Again”: 21-Year-Old-Driver Begs Dale Jr’s Forgiveness for Triggering Cars Tour Rampage Before Facing Serious Consequences (Exclusives)