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April 11, 2014: Dale Earnhardt Jr.(88) Hendrick Motorsports National Guard Chevrolet SS and Kyle Busch(18) Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) M&M s Toyota Camry talk during practice for the Bojangles Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, SC. AUTO: APR 11 NASCAR Motorsport USA – Sprint Cup Series – Bojangles Southern 500 – Practice PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxRUSxSWExNORxONLY Icon140411001500 April 11 2014 Dale Earnhardt JR 88 Hendrick Motorsports National Guard Chevrolet SS and Kyle Busch 18 Joe Gibbs Racing jgr M s Toyota Talk during Practice for The Bojangles Southern 500 AT Darlington Raceway in Darlington SC Car APR 11 Nascar motor aviation USA Sprint Cup Series Bojangles Southern 500 Practice PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxRUSxSWExNORxONLY
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via Imago
April 11, 2014: Dale Earnhardt Jr.(88) Hendrick Motorsports National Guard Chevrolet SS and Kyle Busch(18) Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) M&M s Toyota Camry talk during practice for the Bojangles Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, SC. AUTO: APR 11 NASCAR Motorsport USA – Sprint Cup Series – Bojangles Southern 500 – Practice PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxRUSxSWExNORxONLY Icon140411001500 April 11 2014 Dale Earnhardt JR 88 Hendrick Motorsports National Guard Chevrolet SS and Kyle Busch 18 Joe Gibbs Racing jgr M s Toyota Talk during Practice for The Bojangles Southern 500 AT Darlington Raceway in Darlington SC Car APR 11 Nascar motor aviation USA Sprint Cup Series Bojangles Southern 500 Practice PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxRUSxSWExNORxONLY
Early on in the Cup Series career of Kyle Busch, he used to race for Hendrick Motorsports. Back then, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was the talk of the town. However, Busch and Junior were never friends during their early years competing on the track. Decades later, Rowdy revealed how he would often feel jealous of Junior and his lifestyle.
Recently, during a podcast, Busch opened up and spoke about his relationship with Junior and how it improved only after a certain period.
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Busch felt excluded from being one of the cool kids
During the conversation, Rowdy mentioned, “Jr. and I, we get along well now. He grew up a lot. I grew up a lot. You know, we were both punk kids at that time and we didn’t really mesh with one another. I came into the sport at 18. I love dale jr. Like I was actually a Dale Earnhardt Jr fan.”
He further mentioned that things changed after he got to the Cup Series himself. Busch elaborated, “I was a little jealous a little envious like I wanted to hang out with him.”
He then spoke about how Junior would be considered the “rockstar” back in those days. Busch then mentioned that he too wanted to visit Junior’s house parties, but he was still underage at that point in time.
Read More: Kyle Busch Claims His “Hands Are Too Soft and Girly” Now, Throwing Shade at the Next-Gen Car
The two-time champion concluded by saying, “I was never cool. I was never one of the cool kids. I was never invited over, so maybe rubbed me the wrong way and pi**ed me off so we were never friends. But then he and I grew up, and we hashed it out and we’re good now.”
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Dale Earnhardt Jr eventually replaced Kyle Busch early into his career
After spending a few years at Hendrick Motorsports, the end of the road had arrived for Busch. It was during the 2007 season when Busch sealed the fate of his HMS ship. Rowdy had been involved in a massive wreck between himself and his brother. Following this wreck, even Busch’s own relationship with his brother declined for a while.
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LONG POND, PA – JUNE 05: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Pretzel Toyota, sits in his car during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Gillette Fusion ProGlide 500 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
It can be considered that after the massive wreck, Hendrick Motorsports would have decided it was best for them to get Junior onto the team. Thankfully, Busch was not left stranded.
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WATCH THIS STORY: “I’m Still Bummed”: Kyle Busch Reveals the Negative Aspect of Hendrick Motorsports Icon Driving for His Truck Series Team
It was Joe Gibbs Racing that picked up Busch for the following season. With JGR, Busch even went on to win two Cup Series championships. So was it a loss for HMS in the end? Maybe, maybe not. Let us know what you think.
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