As the NASCAR scene revs up for its round-of-8 opener this weekend, all eyes are on the notorious Las Vegas Speedway, where past events have stolen the limelight. Among the many unforgettable moments in this track’s history, one stands out vividly: the epic pit box brawl that erupted between two champions.
It all started as a fierce race to the finish line, with aggressive moves leading to misfortune for a select few. But it was the last-lap wreck that sparked the ultimate showdown. Kyle Busch, a hometown favorite, found himself in the middle of the chaos, leading to a shocking image of him with a bloodied forehead.
Turning the clock to 2017: Action at Vegas Speedway
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The backdrop was the 1.5-mile race at Nevada in 2017, where the closing laps witnessed unforgettable shenanigans. In a final restart, pole-sitter Brad Keselowski‘s hopes were dashed as he faced an engine failure, and Martin Truex Jr. seized the opportunity, passing him with just two laps to go. Truex’s victory marked a historic achievement, becoming the first driver in the history of race stages to win all three stages in a single weekend.
However, overshadowing Truex’s dominance was the intense rivalry between Joe Gibbs Racing stalwart Kyle Busch and Team Penske ace Joey Logano. The former KBM owner, poised for a strong race finish, found himself in a dramatic clash with Logano as they battled for P3. Logano’s aggressive move left his No. 18 Toyota spinning down pit road, effectively ending his race.
Frustrated and fueled by adrenaline, Kyle Busch charged down the pits toward Logano and his crew, unleashing a haymaker aimed straight at Logano’s jaw. Chaos erupted as punches were thrown, with Busch eventually on the ground and officials struggling to separate the warring drivers. As the adrenaline wore down, the 38-year-old was seen exiting the scene with blood dripping down his forehead, nursing an injury. He was taken to the infield care center for examination and treatment. Despite being pulled away, he defiantly muttered, “Get the f*ck off me.”
Logano, reflecting on the brawl, remarked, “There wasn’t much talking, just a lot of swinging, I was racing hard there at the end.” Busch remained unapologetic, vowing that Logano “is going to get it” for his aggressive driving. “I got dumped. He flat out just drove straight in the corner and wrecked me.”
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Even after 6 years, that fiasco remains fresh in the memory of fans, and it appears that the rivalry between the duo still simmers. Years after the event, Kyle Busch shed more light on the matter during a conversation with The Athletic’s Jeff Gluck.
He explained the roots of the rivalry, which goes beyond the brawl at the Las Vegas Speedway. “Well, there’s always been a rivalry of sorts between Team Penske and Joe Gibbs Racing, and much of that has stemmed from Brad (Keselowski) and myself never liking each other or getting along. Joey and I have always had a pretty decent relationship, and I was one of his biggest supporters at JGR.
He continued, “I was one of the guys talking to Joe (Gibbs) and saying, ‘Man, I don’t think he needs to be let go. I think we should keep him. I think we need to keep him a little longer.’ We were always cordial. I wouldn’t call us friends, but I was better teammates with Joey than I probably was with Denny at that time.”
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However, Kyle Busch expressed his disapproval of Joey Logano’s shift from a cheerful demeanor to a different attitude on the racetrack, stating, “For one, you can’t be this happy-go-lucky, laugh-all-the-time, ha-ha whatever to everyone’s face and then on the racetrack put this different act on. Like who you are is who you are; you can’t be two-faced. I hate two-faced.” With NASCAR returning to the speedway this weekend, one can’t help but wonder: what drama awaits us this time?