Wallace, Busch trade barbs following Richmond Nationwide race

By Rea White - Associate Editor

Saturday, May 03, 2008

Article Rating: 3.0
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RICHMOND, Va. – Kyle Busch and Steve Wallace first made contact on the track, then disparaged one another off of it at Richmond International Raceway Friday night.

The two were battling for position on the final lap of the NASCAR Nationwide Series Lipton Tea 250 when Wallace got a run coming off Turn 2 then went on to hit Busch’s Braun Racing Toyota.

That incensed Busch, who felt that Wallace should have gone around him instead of making contact.

“Steven Wallace got a better run off the corner than I did and instead of pulling out and passing, he hit me in the back end and jacked me up, jacked me sideways and luckily I was able to straighten it out and get in Turn 3 behind him and he probably knew I was going to spin him up so he moved up the track and let me go by him,” Busch said. “And we came home third and instead of him passing me clean and ending up third, he ended up fifth. Just being an idiot."

After the race, Busch went up and leaned his head into Wallace’s car.

His comments?

“I basically told him that you mess with the bull, you’re going to get the horns, then he wanted to grab my helmet which is pretty childish again,” Busch said. “We’ll see what happens here in the future, and if he wants to play those games, he’s going to get hurt.”

Wallace offered his own version of events.

“I don’t know what he was saying, but I jerked him by the helmet just to rattle his cage a little bit and just to tell him I wasn’t happy with it,” said the Rusty Wallace Racing driver, who earned a career-best fifth-place finish in the race. “He’s just a little girl about it. I’d say it’s pretty bad when they call drivers introduction, everybody in the grandstands boos you.”

He said that no punches were thrown, but that Busch was obviously mad. Wallace seemed to think that Busch was making a big deal out of nothing.

“He’s just a big tall big-ear loser, I guess,” he said. “Don’t know what his deal is. He just got mad because I got in the back of him. Rubbing is racing here at the short track. I was racing as hard as I could, got in the back of him a little bit. And that’s racing. Sorry.”

As to where they go from here, Busch was asked if the two would talk later this week once calmer emotions prevailed.

That clearly doesn’t seem likely.

“That’s Rusty Wallace’s kid so I’m not sure you’re going to be able to talk to him much and get through his head. But we’ll see,” he said. “Probably I won’t [talk with him].”

Average Rating: 3.0

Comments

16 responses to "Wallace, Busch trade barbs following Richmond Nationwide race"
  1. 1
    Billie Brooks said:
    May 3, 2008 at 5:19 AM

    Not very "classy". First, Wallace should cool of before opening his mouth, making statements to the media, or anyone else, about another person's appearance is juvenile and certainly uncalled for. Second, Busch should have shown he was the "bigger" person and let the incident go!

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  2. 2
    c j larson said:
    May 3, 2008 at 7:11 AM

    About time somebody called Little Busch out. Will take somebody with the respected linage of a Wallace to do it..He will never have the class of brother Kurt..

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  3. 3
    Scott Beaudoin said:
    May 3, 2008 at 9:17 AM

    So essentially, if Kyle Busch hits someone, its just a racing incident or it's "he's just racing hard". But if someone gets into Busch, they're driving like idiots or have no talent. Really now? I'm sure Johnny Benson , Mike Skinner and Brendan Gaughn would agree with that logic right? Kudos to Steven for standing up to Bush's ego and calling him out. He's clearly got his number.

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  4. 4
    Billie Brooks said:
    May 3, 2008 at 9:53 AM

    My comment was not about their racing talents, or the lack of it, my concern was the "name-calling", or as its been put, "calling him out". Name calling is the highest form of bullying, and I still think it shows lack of class, he could have voiced his displeasure without making remarks about someone's appearance. A good rule for all of us would be to take a look in the mirror before making derogatory remarks about how another person looks! Emotions run high in this sport, especially angry ones. I hope in the future they think before they speak. Remember what happened to Dale,Jr. a couple of years ago, his words, or word, cost him valuable points and a good run in the chase! Enjoy the race everyone!

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  5. 5
    rick odom said:
    May 3, 2008 at 10:06 AM

    Kyle Buch should be thankful for what he has and play nice before one the good ole boys teaches him the facts of life the hard way.I think the public is sick and tired of these golden child antics and could care less if he were even on the track. Way to go Steven ,next time turn the spoiled bratt. These cup drivers are there as a draw but need to keep in mind that some day the nationwide drivers will be racing them in the cup series.

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  6. 6
    Timothy Schultze said:
    May 3, 2008 at 11:09 AM

    He probably wont be sticking his head in any other drivers car to soon let a lone Steven Wallace. WHAT A LITTLE BABY GIRL.

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  7. 7
    Tom McNew said:
    May 3, 2008 at 1:03 PM

    I agree, its about time someone put that little panzy Kyle Busch in his place. He gets called "wild" when he gets into someone else...but makes a stink if the tables are turned. He needs to just shut his cake hole and be thankful for the great situation he is in. Without that team and all their assets, he is another very average driver and would be fighting for a Top 35 position.

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  8. 8
    Bill Meade said:
    May 3, 2008 at 1:07 PM

    Bush Needs an Old Fashioned Alley Beating, most 12 year olds could do it, he needs to get a life, think how easy he has it, just send him to Iraq, no on second thought, that takes some Guts !!

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  9. 9
    Anonymous said:
    May 3, 2008 at 4:13 PM

    What's with Kyle's comments of " I'm not racing for points and I don't care how many cars I wreck" If i was a NASCAR official I would find comments like that very disturbing. Also on the last lap it appear to me that Kyle brake checked Wallace going into the corner causing Wallace and another car to almost crash. Tell me if im wrong on that one. To me Kyle's action and comments are far worse than Jr'S smearing in an post race interview that resulted in a fine.

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  10. 10
    Barbara Murphy said:
    May 3, 2008 at 9:45 PM

    I hope Kyle Busch gets some of his own childish behavior stuck in his face the rest of the year. In my opinion, he is a childish brat and should have a good over the knee whipping from somebody with enough clout to put him in the place he really belongs. It would be a great pleasure to me if he didn't finish another race the rest of the season. His antics this week-end have just proved he has no class, he is a spoil brat and he isn't a very good driver either. He persistantly seems to cause conflict with other drivers and this week-end and last week-end have just jelled my opinion that he has no business on a race track anywhere.

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  11. 11
    lisa hodge said:
    May 4, 2008 at 9:45 AM

    congratulations on your top 5 finish steve ,also if Kyle Busch isn't racing for points why is he racing??????Pam cremeans Milton ,Wv

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  12. 12
    lisa hodge said:
    May 4, 2008 at 9:48 AM

    Darrel Waltrip are you siding with kyle busch because of flasbacks of your career and your BOOS and by the way is that haircolor RUSTY #2? Patty Chafin barboursville,wv

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  13. 13
    lisa hodge said:
    May 4, 2008 at 9:54 AM

    Way to go Steve Wallace on your top 5 and a great season so far way to go for not taking any Busch S***t i see that Wallace blood shining through ! Lisa Hodge Milton Wv

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  14. 14
    lisa hodge said:
    May 4, 2008 at 10:00 AM

    Watching someone finally putting it to Mr. Kyle Busch made my nite kudos steve and also on your top 5! Calvin Lee milton.wv

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  15. 15
    lisa hodge said:
    May 4, 2008 at 10:06 AM

    WV race fans LOVE THE WALLACE BROTHERS ,and the busch brothers {NOT}!!!! Way to go Steve on your top five . JIM CHAPMAN Milton ,Wv

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  16. 16
    Kenny West said:
    May 5, 2008 at 1:26 PM

    Awsome job Steve! When he walked over to your car on Friday night I do believe his bloomers were showing from under the skirt he was wearing...

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