Chase Elliott disclosed that Kyle Busch personally apologized after their involvement in the Hendrick Motorsports Richmond race incident, which abruptly ended Elliott’s chances for the regular-season championship last weekend. The collision at Richmond Raceway not only forced Elliott out of the race but also shifted the season’s direction for several drivers as the playoffs approach.
How Elliott’s Run Ended at Richmond
During lap 198 of the Cook Out 400, Chase Elliott was navigating in 27th place when trouble struck. A spin by Chase Briscoe triggered a multi-car crash off turn three. Attempting to avoid the chaos by diving to the inside line, Elliott became collateral when Kyle Busch, also seeking a way through, accidentally clipped the #9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. The resulting contact pushed Elliott into the wall, effectively ending his night at the 0.75-mile track.
This untimely exit handed the regular-season championship to Elliott’s own Hendrick Motorsports teammate, William Byron. In addition to the distinction, Byron received 15 playoff points, providing him with an important advantage for upcoming elimination rounds.
Elliott’s Reaction to Busch’s Apology
After the incident, Elliott explained that he was never angry with Kyle Busch over the accident, recognizing it as an unfortunate mistake from the outset. As reported by Steven Taranto, Elliott recounted Busch’s outreach:
“Kyle did reach out to me. He apologized for what happened. I don’t have any differing opinion on it. I was never mad at him. I knew it was a mistake right when I saw it. So, I don’t… it sucks and I hated it.”
—Chase Elliott, NASCAR Champion
“It killed our night and then regular season championship hopes kind of all at the same time, but I knew that was nothing he did on purpose or wasn’t anything aimed at us. It’s just a way it all went down,”
he added. —Chase Elliott, NASCAR Champion
While Elliott’s race ended early, Busch was able to continue and ultimately finished 16th. Austin Dillon emerged victorious, earning his first win of the season and a long-awaited playoff berth, his first since 2022. Alex Bowman crossed the line in second, closely followed by Team Penske drivers Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, and Austin Cindric, who filled out the top five positions.
Implications for the Season and Playoffs
Elliott’s first DNF of the year was especially harsh, considering he had avoided such setbacks all season and was a prime candidate for the regular-season title after a win in Atlanta secured his playoff standing. The result at Richmond not only dashed those hopes but also complicated the playoff scenario for other contenders.
The disappointment didn’t dampen Elliott’s sense of humor. He shared a meme on Instagram, editing comedian Shane Gillis into the background of his Richmond crash, with Gillis declaring,
“Stuff like that? That’s a load of cr**.”
—Shane Gillis, Comedian
Elliott captioned his post with, “On to Daytona I guess.”, spotlighting his quick pivot to the season’s final regular race—the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona. This key event will decide the last two available playoff spots, with Tyler Reddick and Alex Bowman currently sitting safely above the cutoff line based on points.
Kyle Busch faces a do-or-die situation at Daytona, sitting 173 points below the cutline and in need of a win to keep his playoff hopes alive. For Elliott and fellow Hendrick Motorsports competitors, the focus now shifts to capitalizing on playoff opportunities despite the recent setback in Richmond.
The aftermath of the Richmond incident continues to ripple through NASCAR, impacting not only Elliott and Busch but also shifting the momentum among both established champions and new contenders as the post-season looms.
