The 2023 Thanksgiving Classic was marred due to the violent altercation between Bradley McCaskill and Ryan Joyner in the Limited Late Model race. A similar altercation, albeit more toned down and limited to only verbal jabs, took place after the Late Model Stock race between Brenden Queen and Kaden Honeycutt. The two were caught up in a war of words that was, at times, pretty brutal. Queen had initially apologized for his on-track antics but with time, he seemed to have come to the conclusion that he did nothing wrong.

The Late Model Stock race was won by Brenden Queen as Kaden Honeycutt finished P2. The two raced hard and fast in the last 25 laps of the race, also battling with Cup Series driver Josh Berry in the process. Honeycutt had a great run but Queen’s hard racing style kept him at bay from overtaking. After the race, the 20-year-old was not very pleased.

Thanksgiving Classic champion refutes Kaden Honeycutt with “hard, good racing” take

Brenden Queen, also known as ‘Butterbean’, was subject to some pretty harsh comments by Honeycutt at the end of the race. However, the 26-year-old had extended his hand in apology. The two drivers’ door-to-door battle for the lead caught the attention of the crowd. There was a point when Queen made contact with the #17 of Honeycutt and that was not something the 20-year-old appreciated.

“I hate that every time I race someone at the end of the race, they choose to use me up and run right through me. There’s nothing else I can say about that. I’m not going to be as nice next year. It’s the way I am. I’ve gotten raced this way by four or five guys like this in this race and drive me so dirty,” he said at the time.

After the race, Butterbean had said that he had massive respect for Kaden Honeycutt but did not believe he made much of a contact with him. They were 3-wide for the lead at that point and the 26-year-old believed to have only nudged him slightly. Nevertheless, he extended his apologies to Honeycutt out of respect before seeing the replay.

It did not take long for the winner of the $15,000 at the Thanksgiving Classic to rescind his apology. After going through the replay, Butterbean remained adamant that he made no mistake. It was just hard racing for the lead of the race in his eyes.

“I don’t regret anything,” Queen said as per Short Track Scene. “I don’t know why he was upset with me. I know he made some comments that Josh didn’t do anything and it was just me running him up to the fourth groove. We were mutually using each other and mutually using the brake to keep each other from crossing each other up. That was all hard, good racing.”

It is obviously frustrating for a driver racing in the top 3 to be 3-wide and get beaten out. If there is any sort of contact during that battle, it’s not unnatural for drivers to be angry about it. Especially when the person who made contact ends up winning the race.

Read More – NASCAR Insider Unmasks Forgotten 7LBS Chase Elliott Story on the HMS Golden Boy’s 28th Birthday

Butterbean says he would have expected his rival to do the same thing

Trending

NASCAR Insider Reveals ‘Business Issues’ Behind Losing $25 Million Deal With Denny Hamlin’s 19-Year Partner

Sheldon Creed Breaks Silence on Choosing Gene Haas’ Plan Over Joe Gibbs’ NASCAR Legacy

“Won’t Be Watching Anymore”- Displeased Fans Take Issue With NASCAR After Shocking Reversal on Kyle Busch’s All-Star Antagonist

NASCAR Fans Insinuate MTJ Insider’s Sacking After Rumored Fallout With Joe Gibbs & Co in Bristol

NASCAR Legend Richard Petty Echoes Denny Hamlin’s Horsepower Debate as Bristol Fails to Excite Fans

Butterbean understands this sentiment. He had said earlier that he had a lot of love and respect for Kaden Honeycutt. The 26-year-old believes that he will have a conversation with his younger competitor about the matter and that the 20-year-old would have done the same had the roles been reversed.

“Nothing big, just a wiggle and he said I drove through him but I really don’t know how you drive through someone on their left side. And no one crashed. I’m sure we’ll talk about and I know he’s frustrated he didn’t win. I’m a racer and I would have expected him to do the same thing,” Queen added.

Was Kaden Honeycutt’s point of view wrong since he lost the race by the finest of margins, or was there just enough contact to put him off his game? Let us know what you think.

Watch this story: Will Chase Elliott’s Reign Continue? The NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award Unveiling!