“The Sport Needs Kyle Busch”- Veteran Spotter Backs KFB’s ‘International’ Corey LaJoie Slander Amidst Jeopardized ‘19’ Streak

Tensions were flaring between Corey LaJoie & Kyle Busch this weekend. After all, their Pocono encounter became viral once Rowdy chose the globally acclaimed Pat McAfee Show to announce his “payback” before Indy. And as Corey revealed to Jeff Gluck before the race, he was certainly irked that Busch got on “the biggest talk show in the country” to call him a “liar.”

But when they met at Indy, no payback transpired. Instead, Kyle Busch went winless for his 42nd week straight as LaJoie finished eleven spots above him in P14. Regardless, the bare hype of their mid-season conflict should speak volumes about the star power KFB warrants. A single statement from the man appears to be able to boost the sport’s popularity more than the potential end of his 19-year winning streak at RCR could stir hysteria. 

And long-time spotters Brett Griffin & Freddie Kraft duly emphasized how special that is in their July 22 conversations on Door Bumper Clear. 

Kyle Busch’s big dilemma leaving Indianapolis

Surely after a two-week break for the Olympics, the friction between Kyle Busch & Corey LaJoie will have rubbed down. But just like the Spire driver recently mentioned to Jeff Gluck, Rowdy knows how to wreck someone in a manner that “doesn’t look like it’s intentional.” Hence, LaJoie is still wary of any ill intentions. But after some well-deserved downtime with his family, the man he wrecked at Pocono will hopefully think better than to hold grudges over only another racing incident.

Moreover, as Brett Griffin recently mentioned on DBC, “I just hope Kyle has $50,000. Because now that’s what it’s going to cost him if he wrecks him (LaJoie).” Griffin isn’t wrong to assert that NASCAR will be vigilant after Busch’s public callout targeting Corey in front of global audiences, courtesy of Pat McAfee. He explained, “You called your shot. So now, are you going to do it? A. And then B, if you do, are you gonna get fined? So I think it’ll be curious to see what plays out there.”

But on the flip side of what feels like the gazillionth negative narrative associated with Kyle Busch this season, Griffin necessitated the former 2x champ’s presence with a fair account of his #8 car’s Brickyard advance this past Sunday. “Top seven-top eight run. Three to go. Brings out one of the late race cautions. Those guys man; a lot of times they’ve had fast top 10 runs going and just can’t finish races. So I hope they take these two weeks to kind of reset their brains and come back after the break. Because the sport needs Kyle Busch. Period.” –  declared the controversial spotter with ample respect. And it would be foolish to deny that notion since nobody wants to see the sport lose its winningest active driver.

Bubba Wallace’s spotter, Freddie Kraft, agreed with all of it “a thousand %” and he had a pretty solid reasoning. Kraft reminded the listeners, “[Busch] won every year, right? So it’s like 19 in a row. And that streak’s obviously in jeopardy.” But then Freddie continued from where his podcast partner had left off and pointed out the steady signs of a Rowdy resurgence at the Brickyard 400.

He elaborated, “I mean he qualified like 36th or something like that, you know, somewhere way in the back. I think he was second or third or last in his group and they were struggling at the beginning of the race. And then they either found speed or just great strategy by Randall. Gets them up there. Like you said, they’re going to finish in the top seven somewhere if you make a mistake like that you know couple laps to go it’s unfortunate.” 

To provide further context, Kyle Busch wrecked on the last lap after contact with Denny Hamlin while fighting for the fifth position. This sent the race into overtime, and the #8 car finished P25 two laps down after two overtime restarts. Ironically, it was then Hamlin who registered a DNF this past Sunday as he was involved in a multi-car wreck on the ensuing restart. He finished 32nd.

Corey LaJoie will have better days ahead

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Nevertheless, Busch was classy in defeat and even apologized to his team over social media for “trying to be aggressive.” Kraft revealed that this version of Rowdy even helped P5 finisher Bubba Wallace back to pit lane after the #23 car ran out of fuel on the cooldown lap. Coincidentally, even Corey LaJoie ran out of gas, among many others at the end of the Brickyard 400. But as per reports, no one pushed his car back to the garage sadly.

One must feel bad for LaJoie. After all, this P14 finish at Indy was his first inside the top 15 in over a month. But for many, this feud was one of the best things that happened in NASCAR recently. So Corey should keep his chin up and do what he does best – racing. As Kraft said in between conversations with Griffin: “It’s awesome that when our drivers go out there… on different kind of platforms and promote the sport. And promote it like this, it’s fun you know. Like, when you get to have a little fun when a guy gets actually opinionated and says what he’s thinking…”

With the NASCAR season now returning on August 11th at the Richmond Raceway for the Cook Out 400, do you see a payback coming for Corey LaJoie any longer? Let us know in the comments below.