Chase Elliott addressed the aftermath of the recent Kyle Busch Richmond incident apology, clarifying he holds no resentment towards Busch after the collision that ruined his race and dashed his chances at the regular season NASCAR Cup title. The accident unfolded late at Richmond, intensifying speculation about a possible feud, but Elliott’s comments put those rumors to rest.
Unbroken Streak Ends After 27 Consecutive Finishes
Chase Elliott arrived in Richmond on the back of a remarkable streak, with no DNFs (Did Not Finish) through the first 24 races of the 2025 season and dating back to the final races of last year for a total of 27 consecutive finishes. He had also secured 23 straight top-20 results before a disappointing finish at Watkins Glen ended that particular run with a 26th-place showing.
However, his unblemished DNF record came to a sudden halt at Richmond. The trouble began on a restart when Chase Briscoe checked up, sliding into Kyle Busch’s lane and sparking a massive 12-car collision on the front stretch. Elliott, caught just behind the incident, tried to avoid the chaos. But Kyle Busch, apparently unaware of Elliott’s position, clipped the rear of the No. 9 car, sending Elliott hard into the wall and prematurely ending his night.
Elliott Responds to Kyle Busch’s Apology After the Crash
Despite the high stakes and emotional toll of the crash, Elliott made it clear he had no hard feelings toward Busch. He confirmed Busch reached out to acknowledge the incident, emphasizing the mistake was unintentional.
“He didn’t realize we were all coming by down there on the bottom. Obviously, he just got through the wreck like a lot of us who had kind of been in it.”
—Chase Elliott, Driver
Steven Taranto, NASCAR journalist, echoed Elliott’s message, stating,
“Chase Elliott said today that Kyle Busch reached out to apologize for the contact that ended Elliott’s race and regular season title hopes that Richmond. Seems like Kyle was just getting his bearings and didn’t realize other cars were coming through on the bottom. Chase said he…”
—Steven Taranto, Journalist
Elliott reiterated that he knew right away the crash was not deliberate, and though the outcome was disappointing, especially given the timing, he did not attribute any malicious intent to Busch.
Impact on Elliott’s Season and Championship Standings
The fallout from the Richmond incident was immediate and consequential. Elliott ended up last in the 38-car field, marking a rare low point with consecutive finishes outside the top 20—a first for his season. Prior to the race, Elliott had completed all but a single lap in the Cup season, with Bristol being his only slight misstep.
At the start of the Richmond event, Elliott sat second in the Cup standings, trailing William Byron by just 42 points. The crash, however, shattered any hopes of reclaiming the lead at the Daytona regular season finale, effectively closing the door on a late push for the championship.
Looking Forward After a Season-Altering Setback
Though the incident at Richmond, involving Kyle Busch and Chase Briscoe, will be remembered as a turning point in Elliott’s season, the driver remains focused and philosophical about the unpredictable nature of racing. The Richmond race underscored the challenges faced by Elliott, Kyle Busch, and other top competitors as the season heads into its final stages with the Daytona finale looming. With Elliott’s response and Busch’s apology making headlines, attention now turns to whether Elliott and his team can regroup for the playoffs, and how the standings may shake up with William Byron still leading the points table.
