Skip to main content
NASCAR Logo

NASCAR warns Kyle Busch for hitting Justin Haley during caution laps of Clash heat race

JHby:Jonathan Howardabout 24 hours

Jondean25

NASCAR Clash Kyle Busch warning
Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images

We are only in Heat Race 1 and Kyle Busch has received a warning from NASCAR to calm down after an incident with Justin Haley on the track. Bowman Gray is called the Madhouse for a reason and we are seeing that tonight.

Justin Haley was all over Kyle Busch for a lap or two, trying to make a pass. Under caution, Kyle Busch gave it right back. Then Rowdy went out and took the spot and raced away to advance to Sunday’s feature.

We saw THREE-WIDE at Bowman Gray as a result of this fight. Just remarkable driving on this quarter-mile short track. But NASCAR wants Rowdy to keep it cool.

Kyle Busch got himself into some trouble on a short track last year. No one has forgotten his fight with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. at North Wilkesboro Speedway last year. I don’t think the almost 40-year-old Busch is looking for a fight. I also don’t think he would shy away from one.

Bowman Gray is delivering already. But the drivers themselves have to make it happen. These guys have to get next to one another, bump each other in the corners. There has to be action from these drivers, not just racing fast.

In these smaller, 10-car races, it is hard to get that side-by-side racing. With only 25 laps, you don’t really get lapped cars, either. But on Sunday the 200-lap feature will have that and more.

Kyle Busch gets warning, advances to Sunday feature

Despite the warning from NASCAR, Kyle Busch was fine in the rest of the race. He took the warning and decided to let his racing do the talking. Busch raced three-wide, put his bumper to other cars, and made his way to a transfer spot comfortably.

Outside of that first heat, the next two were a little dull. Cars got strung out quickly and without an early caution, these cars got away from each other. We will see a fourth heat race that could produce fireworks like we saw in the first.

Drivers like Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, and Chase Briscoe are really strong early on. You never know what will happen in a 200-lap race, but those drivers look like they are the ones to beat.

Kyle Busch looks ready to go. He was dirt racing in the offseason and is probably glad to have his fenders back and four wheels on asphalt. Will he walk away with the win on Sunday?