Denny Hamlin points finger at Kyle Larson over wreck with Kyle Busch at Gateway

Denny Hamlin said on his “Actions Detrimental” podcast that Kyle Larson started the issue between himself and Kyle Busch at the end of Stage 2 of Sunday’s Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway which ended with both in the outside wall of Turn 2.

Hamlin said that Larson got too close trying to side draft Busch down the front straightaway, which likely “pissed off Busch,” who then turned left into Larson going into the corner.

"I think Kyle Busch was frustrated with Larson."- @KevinHarvick pic.twitter.com/lWjLXrOkJ8

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) June 2, 2024

“It’s my opinion, but I think Larson pissed off Busch when he ran into his left rear trying to side draft,” Hamlin said. “And we see the side draft getting more and more — they’re getting closer and closer. Alex Bowman did the same thing last week at the Coke 600, like he ran into my left rear while he was trying to side draft. So, there’s clearly something going on there where they’re being taught to get closer and closer to the side of the car. [Larson] ran into the side and Busch was like, ‘Hey, what the f***, like you can’t run into me.’

“No [they’re not trying to make contact]. They’re trying to get as close as they can, but you can’t misjudge it if you’re going to play that game because you could flatten the person’s left rear tire. So, at that point and I think while this is all an opinion, I think this is pretty accurate, he [Larson] pissed Kyle [Busch] off by running into him on the straightaway, Kyle then turned left while the 5 was beside him and wanted to show him, ‘Hey, dude, like that’s bulls***.’ And then they both crashed into the next corner. That was it. Busch’s day was over, and Larson ended up 10th. Busch got the bad end of that deal.”

Kyle Larson, Kyle Busch disagree on who’s to blame for Stage 2 wreck

While Larson was able to rebound from the incident and walk away with a top-10 finish, Busch’s day came to a premature end. At this stage of the game and with no wins up to this point of the season, a P35 result is hardly what Busch needed coming out of Gateway.

“I’m sure it’s my fault,” Busch said sarcastically of the incident between he and Larson. “Hate it for my guys, everybody on the Rebel Camaro. We can’t afford days like this. So, hate it for them and trying to race for a playoff spot and gradually falling [in the standings] there a bit and just – yeah, he got loose and wiped us out.”

Larson and his team saw things a bit differently.

“I mean, he turned into me,” Larson said.

“Yeah, he f***ing crowded you down like a total idiot,” a crew member said.