Chase Elliott’s Darlington crash with Kyle Busch in the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series became a turning point in Elliott’s season and sparked intense emotions on and off the South Carolina oval. The incident—occurring in the final laps of the Toyota 500—ended Elliott’s night abruptly and threatened to overshadow his hard-fought campaign as NASCAR returned from its COVID shutdown.
Elliott’s Night Ends Abruptly at Darlington
During the closing laps at Darlington in May 2020, Chase Elliott, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, ran second just behind Denny Hamlin. As the field raced toward the finish, Kyle Busch, piloting the No. 18 car, attempted to find a gap to rejoin the line and misjudged the space, clipping the left rear of Elliott’s No. 9 Chevrolet. The collision sent Elliott spinning nose-first into the wall, ending his race in 38th place.
Elliott, who had just finished fourth in the Real Heroes 400 at the same track two days prior, was visibly frustrated. Exiting his damaged car, he walked to the edge of the track and delivered a pointed one-fingered salute to Busch as the field passed under caution. The highly charged moment captured NASCAR’s return to racing and laid bare the tension between two of the Cup series’ accomplished drivers.
Post-Race Exchanges and Lasting Respect
Kyle Busch immediately accepted responsibility for the crash, acknowledging his error after the event. Busch’s sportsmanship was met with a mixed response from Elliott, who managed to separate his initial outburst from a broader sense of rivalry and respect between the two competitors. Speaking with NASCAR about the incident, Elliott revealed his perspective on Busch’s actions and their pre-existing relationship:
“I really think it depends on the person. How much respect you either had or didn’t have for that person prior to that moment. In Kyle’s situation, Kyle and I have gotten along for many years. I feel like I’ve raced him with a lot of respect because I respect him,”
Elliott told NASCAR afterward. —Chase Elliott, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
Despite the immediate fury, Elliott made it clear that Busch’s reputation and apology held weight. When asked why tempers did not boil over further between the pair, Elliott pointed to logistical realities in the pandemic era:
“It’d be kind of hard to fight when you have to stay six feet apart. My arms aren’t long enough,”
he added. —Chase Elliott, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
Kevin Harvick, who finished third in the race, echoed the sentiment that Busch’s move was not intentional. The respect between Elliott and Busch survived, even as their rivalry continued to simmer in later events.
Bouncing Back After the Darlington Setback
Determined not to let the crash define his season, Chase Elliott demonstrated remarkable resilience in the weeks following Darlington. He secured four top-five finishes in the next six races and clinched pivotal wins at Charlotte and Daytona, solidifying his momentum as the playoffs approached.
Entering the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series postseason, Elliott reached a new level, winning three of the final five races—including the crucial finale in Phoenix. He bested drivers like Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, and Joey Logano to seize his first Cup Series championship. The Darlington collision with Busch, once a symbol of frustration, became merely a noteworthy chapter in Elliott’s breakthrough year.
Ongoing Rivalry and Lasting Impact
For Kyle Busch, the crash marked only a brief setback; however, his own playoff run ended in the Round of 8. The rivalry between Busch and Elliott has remained largely competitive rather than personal, as shown in subsequent battles, such as the 2025 race at Richmond, where Busch once again denied Elliott a potential regular-season title. Despite this, both drivers have maintained mutual respect, keeping their rivalry intense yet professional within the Cup garage.
Chase Elliott’s ability to channel the turmoil of the Darlington incident into a championship run stands as a testament to his growth and competitive spirit. The moment, marked by raw emotion and real consequences, earned him both sympathy and respect among fans and fellow drivers, cementing his place atop the NASCAR Cup Series.
