Ricky Stenhouse Jr reignited tensions with longtime rival Kyle Busch by highlighting Busch’s high crash rate for the ongoing NASCAR season. This public jab follows a previous on-track altercation and comes as new crash data places Kyle Busch among drivers with the highest accident rates in 2024, drawing attention to the Kyle Busch crash rate.
The competitive relationship between Ricky Stenhouse Jr and Kyle Busch has been rocky, most notably escalating into a physical confrontation at North Wilkesboro Speedway earlier in the 2024 season after a race-day collision. Although incidents between the two drivers had cooled in recent months, Stenhouse chose to stoke the rivalry once again following the release of updated crash statistics.
Bush’s High Crash Rate Puts Him Near the Top of List
Auto Racing Analytics published the latest crash data, listing drivers by their percentage of crashes. According to their figures, Noah Gragson leads with a 53% crash rate, closely followed by Shane van Gisbergen and Kyle Busch, both at 50%. Additional names on the list include Cody Ware at 47% and Carson Hocevar at 44%. These numbers place Kyle Busch firmly in the spotlight for his struggles this year.
The same dataset tracks terminal crashes—those incidents causing race-ending damage—where Daniel Suarez leads at 27%, with Noah Gragson, Cody Ware, Bubba Wallace each at 24%, and Ryan Blaney at 21%.
Stenhouse Responds to Busch’s Crash Rate
Ricky Stenhouse Jr, once given the nickname “Wrecky Spinhouse” by Busch, took to social media to point out the irony, as Busch now sits above Stenhouse on the crash rate chart.
“Crazy to think the guy that gave me the nickname Wrecky Spinhouse is on this list 🧐 https://t.co/FwESfjA4WS”
— Ricky Stenhouse Jr, NASCAR Driver
Given that Kyle Busch previously labeled Stenhouse “Wrecky Spinhouse,” Stenhouse highlighting Busch’s stats adds a new twist to their rivalry. For reference, Stenhouse’s own crash rate stands at 35%, significantly lower than Busch’s. His terminal crash rate is at 12%, compared to Busch’s higher presence on overall crash charts.
A Challenging Season for Busch
The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series has proven one of the toughest seasons Kyle Busch has faced since his rookie year in 2005. That year, his average finish was 21st; in 2024, he holds a slightly better but still challenging 18th place in the standings. Despite being a two-time Cup Series champion, most recently in 2019, Busch has struggled to avoid incidents this season.
The tension between Busch and Stenhouse has spilled over from the track to altercations beyond racing, underlining the intensity of their rivalry. Their clash at North Wilkesboro earlier in the year even resulted in a physical confrontation, reflecting the high stakes and emotions present in today’s NASCAR competition.
What This Means for NASCAR
As the 2024 NASCAR season continues, attention on Kyle Busch’s crash rate and his feud with Ricky Stenhouse Jr remains high. The public banter and the statistics cited by Auto Racing Analytics represent a broader discussion within the sport about competing aggressively and handling rivalries. Both Busch’s and Stenhouse’s performances point to the unpredictable nature of this year’s Cup Series, and how persistent tensions between drivers can keep fans watching closely.
Crazy to think the guy that gave me the nickname Wrecky Spinhouse is on this list 🧐 https://t.co/FwESfjA4WS
— Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (@StenhouseJr) October 23, 2025