“I Have Never Really Gotten My Vengeance on Him, So I Still Owe Him One” – Kyle Busch Still Mad at Retired NASCAR Driver to This Day

After playing host to the Xfinity, Truck, and ARCA Menards Series for a decade, Nashville Superspeedway shut its doors in 2011. Reopening its doors to NASCAR in 2021, the Nashville Superspeedway has since hosted the Cup Series Ally 400 race for three straight years. In 2021 and 2022, Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott bagged the Ally 400 title wins. Yesterday’s race at Nashville saw Ross Chastain break his year-long winless streak, driving down Nashville’s Victory Lane. 

Having raced at the Nashville Superspeedway during his ARCA Menards and Xfinity Series journey, Kyle Busch joined Fox’s NASCAR Race Hub for a pre-race chat. Discussing his first season run with Richard Childress Racing and his feelings about being back in Nashville, Busch briefly reflected on his first Xfinity race there.

“I’m still mad”: Kyle Busch talks about the 2004 Pepsi 300 incident

Starting out in the ARCA Menards Series, Kyle Busch secured his first win in Nashville in the 2003 ARCA 150. A year before securing a full-time Cup seat in 2005, he ran the #5 car in Xfinity Series for Hendrick Motorsports. Incidentally, it was in Nashville in 2004 that Kyle Busch missed out on his first Xfinity win.

With three laps remaining of the Pepsi 300, Busch took the lead, fighting off Clint Bowyer in the #21 car. While Busch held on to the lead with two laps remaining, a tap on the rear bumper from Bowyer sent the #5, #21, and two other cars spinning out. Slipping past the wreckage, Michael Waltrip went on to secure the win at the 2004 Pepsi 300 in Nashville.

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Speaking to media personnel on NASCAR Race Hub, Kyle Busch revealed he is still mad at the now-retired Clint Bowyer. “I first came here as a rookie in ARCA and was able to win here, and then came here in Xfinity, and we’ve all seen the highlight reels of that race. I’m still mad at Clint Bowyer for dumping me that day. I have never really gotten my vengeance on him, so I still owe him one,” said Busch.

As the talks progressed further, the RCR driver went on to speak about how racing at Nashville is different.

“Different way to attack the track”: Busch reveals how Nashville differs from other tracks

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While Bristol and Martinsville have concrete on the outer edges or corners, Nashville and Dover are the only tracks that are fully constructed with concrete. A departure from the sticky asphalt tracks, concrete tracks provide the required grip only when the tires are up to temperate. This results in drivers being extra cautious in the early laps, as going flat out may cause the car to spin out. 

Busch said, “I remember early on watching film here from early days of guys that were coming here in the bush Series, in the truck series, and a lot of spins, a lot of crashes not a lot of grip on the concrete until the tires get some heat in them and then they seem to be able to take off and go.

So you know just a different way of racing here, and a different way to attack the track.” Despite having tasted victory in Nashville in his rookie years, yesterday’s race was a disappointment for the RCR driver. Forced to pit early in the race due to a cut in the tire, Kyle Busch finished 9th overall, once again failing to get his hands on the custom guitar.

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