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Truex: Busch ‘drives like a girl;’ Busch: ‘Grow up’

By Lee Montgomery and Bob Pockrass - Associate Editors

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Article Rating: 4.1
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Jason Smith / Getty Images for NASCAR

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 16: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #8 Freightliner Trucks Chevrolet, and Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Interstate Batteries Toyota, race side by side during the NASCAR Nationwide Series Camping World 300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 16, 2008 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR)

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. traded barbs Saturday after the Camping World 300 Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway as the two battled for position on the track in the closing laps of the race.

Truex said Busch blocked a move for second place, and Truex eventually lost the draft and finished outside the top 10 while Busch ended up second to Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Tony Stewart.

“Kyle drives like a girl,” Truex said. “I mean,  come on. We’re out here racing for fun. We had a hell of a battle. I had a lot of fun racing today with him, and then I had a huge run and he just blocked me. I pretty much knew he was going to do it. I had such a run and had to go.

“I know he is trying to protect his teammate to win, but I felt that we had the car to win. I felt we had the best car all day.”

Busch shrugged off Truex’s criticism.

“What else you going to do, man? “ Busch said “Shoot, he's pushing me through the tri-oval, wanting to spin me out.  I'm sorry I saved it and kept it in front of him.  Grow up, bud.  What do you want me to do, pull over? Next question.”

Truex said in hindsight, he should have wrecked Busch instead of backing off the throttle.

“I hit him and he turned down the yellow line,” Truex said. “And I had to pretty much stop to keep from turning him in the grass. I probably should have just turned him in hindsight, probably should have turned him in the grass and be done with it. But I usually don’t drive like that for some reason. I don’t know why. I just don’t.”

Busch said he was simply protecting his position on the track and not trying to keep Truex from passing Stewart.

“Dude, I was trying to keep myself where I needed to be,” Busch said. “I was getting passed left and right all day long when I got out of line.  I was just trying to stay in line.  He got a run on me, [and] I blocked him low. And then he tried to pull high, I blocked him high. 
 That's what you have to do if you want to finish up front in these restrictor-plate races instead of laying over and letting those guys go by you.”

Average Rating: 4.1

Comments

41 responses to "Truex: Busch ‘drives like a girl;’ Busch: ‘Grow up’"
  1. 1
    Maureen Angelucci said:
    Feb 16, 2008 at 4:04 PM

    Martin you should have wrecked him!!! Saying he drives "like a girl" is an insult to us girls not Busch!!!

    Report as Abuse
  2. 2
    Laura MacClaren said:
    Feb 16, 2008 at 4:18 PM

    Man up Truex... Kyle you did an AWESOME JOB!! Way to show great team work. Wish you finished 1st... but I still love you Smoke!! LOL!

    Report as Abuse
  3. 3
    John Garcia said:
    Feb 16, 2008 at 4:50 PM

    Truex, if you can't take it on the track, quit! It racing so stop acting like a bug baby....IT'S RACING!!!!

    Report as Abuse
  4. 4
    Paul Baumgarten said:
    Feb 17, 2008 at 3:42 AM

    Blocking shows almost no talent and very little skill. It prevents a faster car/driver from passing. Any driver who throws a block, in essence, gives license to the driver they are blocking, to spin out the blocker. Blocking is weak minded!

    Report as Abuse
  5. 5
    Glenn Sterling said:
    Feb 17, 2008 at 3:44 AM

    Truex is the man!! As a native of NJ he takes his racing seriously. Eileen and I think you are great, both you and Junior. Thanks for autographing our die casts of your winning cars when we seen you in Atlantic city last month, my Dover win car, and Eileen's Talledega car, you are a winner and we both think you are great, Good luck, Glenn Sterling,& Eileen, Central NJ, your fan club members!!

    Report as Abuse
  6. 6
    Donald Lyle said:
    Feb 17, 2008 at 5:46 AM

    I can,t believe Truex is boo hoooing.As for blocking no talent,very little skill.Come on,what year did you drive in??

    Report as Abuse
  7. 7
    cindy sizenore said:
    Feb 17, 2008 at 7:47 AM

    bush was blocking and could have caused a bad wreck. he acts like a spolled brat and truex and jr should have spun him out.

    Report as Abuse
  8. 8
    cindy sizenore said:
    Feb 17, 2008 at 7:47 AM

    bush was blocking and could have caused a bad wreck. he acts like a spolled brat and truex and jr should have spun him out.

    Report as Abuse
  9. 9
    Jim Schlage said:
    Feb 17, 2008 at 11:58 AM

    Busch is a wuss...Try that b.s. again and MTJ is gonna punt that punk... Go Martin Go!!! Jim S.

    Report as Abuse
  10. 10
    Mark Koop said:
    Feb 19, 2008 at 7:15 AM

    Drivers have been blocking since racing began. Petty did it, Earnhardt did it, Waltrip did it. I'm sure every driver in the garage has done it, including Truex. If you're going to cry about it, cry to your mama. Spin the guy if you have to, but I don't want to hear any crying.

    Report as Abuse
  11. 11
    GARRY SMITH said:
    Feb 19, 2008 at 9:48 AM

    Kyle Busch is the biggest whiniest baby and can only wreck or block. MTJ is by far the most talented and superior. Who won the Busch Championship in 2004? No KB, BUT MTJ! Wreck him next time Martin--he's way overdue!

    Report as Abuse
  12. 12
    Worm Dirt said:
    Feb 19, 2008 at 1:39 PM

    "Drives Like A Girl"????? Kyle looked like the only MAN out there to me on Sunday. Was a blast to watch and I look forward to watching Satan's son dominate and infuriate in all three series this year! I know it is hard for some to see past the tantrums and the pre-teen middle of the chin goat-beard, but Kyle is the real deal. And as a parting shot to Truex..... Anybody else think that he slightly over exaggerates his accent and tries to immitate Juniors mannerisms in his interviews? That cat comes off a little phony to me sometimes.

    Report as Abuse
  13. 13
    Valeri Leist said:
    Feb 19, 2008 at 2:03 PM

    Busch telling someone else to grow up? That's rich coming from the biggest crybaby to ever race on a NASCAR track!!!

    Report as Abuse
  14. 14
    Valeri Leist said:
    Feb 19, 2008 at 2:03 PM

    Busch telling someone else to grow up? That's rich coming from the biggest crybaby to ever race on a NASCAR track!!!

    Report as Abuse
  15. 15
    NASCAR FAN said:
    Feb 19, 2008 at 5:26 PM

    Wow, Truex didn't waste any time filling Dale Jr's place as the DEI cry baby - " waaaah I can't win so I'm going to cry about race car drivers who know how to play the game and can drive better than me!"

    Report as Abuse
  16. 16
    Chris Morrison said:
    Feb 21, 2008 at 11:35 AM

    Truex,there are 35 more races,you have plenty of time to put that punk where he deserves to be.

    Report as Abuse
  17. 17
    Michael Knepp said:
    Feb 21, 2008 at 11:37 AM

    Truex is riding on what is left of Dale Jr's coat tails at DEI. His NC accent is fake - He's from New Jersey and sounds like he's from NC. What a phoney cry baby he is! Kyle Busch is the only guy out there that actually races for the whole race and he's a joy to watch. Everyone else sits on a merry-go-round until the final 50 laps.

    Report as Abuse
  18. 18
    Thomas Mikulski said:
    Feb 21, 2008 at 11:47 AM

    Martin is right!!! Both Busch brothers should be sent back to Vegas and stay there. Maybe they can get jobs as valet drivers at the casino's. The ONLY reason that Kurt pushed and not wrecked Ryan was that Roger would have fired him and he knew it. Yes, I'm from NJ too!But also a HUGE Rusty fan. I guess that say's it all.

    Report as Abuse
  19. 19
    Thomas Mikulski said:
    Feb 21, 2008 at 11:47 AM

    Martin is right!!! Both Busch brothers should be sent back to Vegas and stay there. Maybe they can get jobs as valet drivers at the casino's. The ONLY reason that Kurt pushed and not wrecked Ryan was that Roger would have fired him and he knew it. Yes, I'm from NJ too!But also a HUGE Rusty fan. I guess that say's it all.

    Report as Abuse
  20. 20
    Greg Jasmann said:
    Feb 22, 2008 at 7:52 PM

    Kyle and Martin, arguments like this gets you to the RED trailer. Martin may have had the better car, but Kyle was protecting his lead. Which sounds like it worked. I am seeing too many drivers throwing tantrums and that makes for bad sports. Grow up guys. Your are not 15 anymore.

    Report as Abuse
  21. 21
    Maureen Angelucci said:
    Mar 17, 2008 at 5:01 PM

    Martin you should have wrecked him!!! Saying he drives "like a girl" is an insult to us girls not Busch!!!

    Report as Abuse
  22. 22
    Laura MacClaren said:
    Mar 17, 2008 at 5:01 PM

    Man up Truex... Kyle you did an AWESOME JOB!! Way to show great team work. Wish you finished 1st... but I still love you Smoke!! LOL!

    Report as Abuse
  23. 23
    John Garcia said:
    Mar 17, 2008 at 5:01 PM

    Truex, if you can't take it on the track, quit! It racing so stop acting like a bug baby....IT'S RACING!!!!

    Report as Abuse
  24. 24
    Paul Baumgarten said:
    Mar 17, 2008 at 5:01 PM

    Blocking shows almost no talent and very little skill. It prevents a faster car/driver from passing. Any driver who throws a block, in essence, gives license to the driver they are blocking, to spin out the blocker. Blocking is weak minded!

    Report as Abuse
  25. 25
    Glenn Sterling said:
    Mar 17, 2008 at 5:01 PM

    Truex is the man!! As a native of NJ he takes his racing seriously. Eileen and I think you are great, both you and Junior. Thanks for autographing our die casts of your winning cars when we seen you in Atlantic city last month, my Dover win car, and Eileen's Talledega car, you are a winner and we both think you are great, Good luck, Glenn Sterling,& Eileen, Central NJ, your fan club members!!

    Report as Abuse
  26. 26
    Donald Lyle said:
    Mar 17, 2008 at 5:01 PM

    I can,t believe Truex is boo hoooing.As for blocking no talent,very little skill.Come on,what year did you drive in??

    Report as Abuse
  27. 27
    cindy sizenore said:
    Mar 17, 2008 at 5:01 PM

    bush was blocking and could have caused a bad wreck. he acts like a spolled brat and truex and jr should have spun him out.

    Report as Abuse
  28. 28
    cindy sizenore said:
    Mar 17, 2008 at 5:01 PM

    bush was blocking and could have caused a bad wreck. he acts like a spolled brat and truex and jr should have spun him out.

    Report as Abuse
  29. 29
    Jim Schlage said:
    Mar 17, 2008 at 5:01 PM

    Busch is a wuss...Try that b.s. again and MTJ is gonna punt that punk... Go Martin Go!!! Jim S.

    Report as Abuse
  30. 30
    Mark Koop said:
    Mar 17, 2008 at 5:01 PM

    Drivers have been blocking since racing began. Petty did it, Earnhardt did it, Waltrip did it. I'm sure every driver in the garage has done it, including Truex. If you're going to cry about it, cry to your mama. Spin the guy if you have to, but I don't want to hear any crying.

    Report as Abuse
  31. 31
    GARRY SMITH said:
    Mar 17, 2008 at 5:01 PM

    Kyle Busch is the biggest whiniest baby and can only wreck or block. MTJ is by far the most talented and superior. Who won the Busch Championship in 2004? No KB, BUT MTJ! Wreck him next time Martin--he's way overdue!

    Report as Abuse
  32. 32
    Worm Dirt said:
    Mar 17, 2008 at 5:01 PM

    "Drives Like A Girl"????? Kyle looked like the only MAN out there to me on Sunday. Was a blast to watch and I look forward to watching Satan's son dominate and infuriate in all three series this year! I know it is hard for some to see past the tantrums and the pre-teen middle of the chin goat-beard, but Kyle is the real deal. And as a parting shot to Truex..... Anybody else think that he slightly over exaggerates his accent and tries to immitate Juniors mannerisms in his interviews? That cat comes off a little phony to me sometimes.

    Report as Abuse
  33. 33
    Valeri Leist said:
    Mar 17, 2008 at 5:01 PM

    Busch telling someone else to grow up? That's rich coming from the biggest crybaby to ever race on a NASCAR track!!!

    Report as Abuse
  34. 34
    Valeri Leist said:
    Mar 17, 2008 at 5:01 PM

    Busch telling someone else to grow up? That's rich coming from the biggest crybaby to ever race on a NASCAR track!!!

    Report as Abuse
  35. 35
    NASCAR FAN said:
    Mar 17, 2008 at 5:01 PM

    Wow, Truex didn't waste any time filling Dale Jr's place as the DEI cry baby - " waaaah I can't win so I'm going to cry about race car drivers who know how to play the game and can drive better than me!"

    Report as Abuse
  36. 36
    Chris Morrison said:
    Mar 17, 2008 at 5:01 PM

    Truex,there are 35 more races,you have plenty of time to put that punk where he deserves to be.

    Report as Abuse
  37. 37
    Michael Knepp said:
    Mar 17, 2008 at 5:01 PM

    Truex is riding on what is left of Dale Jr's coat tails at DEI. His NC accent is fake - He's from New Jersey and sounds like he's from NC. What a phoney cry baby he is! Kyle Busch is the only guy out there that actually races for the whole race and he's a joy to watch. Everyone else sits on a merry-go-round until the final 50 laps.

    Report as Abuse