During last year’s NASCAR Cup race at World Wide Technology Raceway, Kyle Busch Gateway crash reflection remains a topic of frustration and analysis for both fans and drivers. The dramatic on-track collision between Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson inside the closing laps of Stage 2 left Busch with a wrecked car and an ongoing search for answers as he faces the longest winless streak of his decorated career.
Late-Race Collision Leaves Busch with DNF, Larson Recovers
With just ten laps to go in the second stage at Gateway, tensions ran high as Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson scrapped for seventh position on the challenging 1.6-mile track. On lap 140, the duel escalated into contact, ending Busch’s hopes as his vehicle suffered extensive damage, relegating him to a disappointing 35th place, near the bottom of the field. Meanwhile, Larson hit the wall but was able to continue, ultimately securing a respectable 10th-place finish for Team Hendrick Chevrolet.
Larson reflected candidly on the tangle, highlighting his tendency to review incidents for any role he may have played. He noted that if he had avoided the initial contact—a minor nudge for a side draft—Busch might not have reacted so aggressively, setting off a chain of retaliation down the straightaway leading to the accident in Turn 1.
“I look at it as probably more my fault there but into one I know I’m the guy that spun but I don’t feel that part was at all my fault. It’s just racing and he got frustrated and I don’t know, I’m sure he’s not too frustrated with me right now.” —Kyle Larson, Driver
Kyle Busch Shares His Perspective on the Incident
When asked recently about last year’s Gateway clash, Busch recounted Larson catching up to him, emphasizing the difficulty of passing in the current generation of NASCAR cars. Busch characterized Larson’s approach as overly aggressive, effectively moving him out of the racing groove.
“From what I recall, Kyle (Larson) caught me from a ways back and it’s hard to pass with these cars, obviously,” —Kyle Busch, Driver
After the initial contact, Busch admitted to crowding Larson into Turn 1, a decision that resulted in both drivers’ cars suffering. Despite the outcome, Busch offered a resigned reflection on the event.
“I guess I just wasn’t too happy with that and crowded him a little bit getting into Turn 1, he lost his race car and we both ended up crashed. I guess that’s part of the course.” —Kyle Busch, Driver
Kevin Harvick Offers Insight and Examines Pressure on Busch
Veteran driver Kevin Harvick discussed the fraught incident on his Happy Hour podcast, interpreting the on-track clash as an eruption of frustration from Busch aimed at Larson. Harvick suggested that although the contact seemed minor, the psychological factors at play—particularly for Busch—were significant. The pressure to extend his years-long win streak and recent pit crew struggles have contributed to Busch’s short fuse on race day.
“I viewed that as a little bit of frustration from Kyle Busch with Kyle Larson and pretty quickly,” —Kevin Harvick, NASCAR Driver/Podcaster
Harvick continued to acknowledge Busch’s repeated tense encounters with fellow drivers and attributed these flare-ups to ongoing performance issues rather than any simple rivalry.
“Kyle’s had a few of these moments with a few guys on the racetrack, so his fuse is short, but it’s short for a reason, and that’s because the cars aren’t running good and they’re not getting the finishes. There’s not many people that are as good as Kyle Busch at what they do.” —Kevin Harvick, NASCAR Driver/Podcaster
Harvick further drew a parallel to a nearly identical episode involving the Busch brothers during the 2007 NASCAR Cup All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Just as with Larson at Gateway, the elder Busch, Kurt, and Kyle tangled, costing both the chance at a million-dollar prize and ultimately leaving Harvick as the race winner.
Busch Reflects on Past Errors and Missed Lessons
Looking back, Busch addressed that infamous 2007 incident at Charlotte, recalling how his brother Kurt‘s aggressive move resulted in both drivers crashing out—an echo, in his mind, of what unfolded at Gateway with Larson.
“I should have learned my lesson on how crowding somebody will crash somebody because my brother did that to me in 2007 at Charlotte,” —Kyle Busch, Driver
“We both made mistakes in that race, but we certainly came out on the worst end of it.” —Kyle Busch, Driver
The lesson, Busch admits, should have registered 17 years ago—yet it remains a bitter reminder of how little has changed. The repeated nature of these conflicts hints at unresolved tension and ongoing frustration for the former series champion.
Current Season and the Pressure to Deliver Results
Heading into the next race at World Wide Technology Raceway, which is now set to host its first-ever NASCAR Cup playoff event, Busch’s drought continues. With his last victory dated to over a year ago, Busch carries the burden of an 84-race losing streak—the longest of his career. As high-stakes racing returns to St. Louis, the spotlight will be on whether Busch’s recent experiences and reflections bring any change in fortune, or if the agonizing wait for a breakthrough result continues.
The ongoing narrative around Kyle Busch Gateway crash reflection not only underscores the intense rivalries and pressures within NASCAR but also highlights how quickly past lessons can fade under the weight of competition, rivalries, and personal expectations. With drivers like Kyle Larson, Kevin Harvick, and the pit crews from Hendrick Chevrolet and others closely watched, the outcome of the next race could reshape storylines for the rest of the season.
