Denny Hamlin explained the late incident that changed the outcome of the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. With four laps remaining, Kyle Busch made contact with Riley Herbst, bringing out a caution that forced overtime in the NASCAR Cup Series race. The moment followed an earlier incident between the same drivers that had already shaped Busch’s day.
Speaking on his Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin detailed what he heard on team radio and how the situation unfolded during the NASCAR Cup Series event. The late caution removed the lead gap and reset the field for a final restart.
Early contact at Bristol Motor Speedway sets up the Food City 500
The first major moment in the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway came on lap 312 in the NASCAR Cup Series race. Riley Herbst, driving the No. 35 Toyota, got into the left rear of Kyle Busch’s No. 8 Chevrolet off Turn 4 during the NASCAR event. The contact turned Kyle Busch around and collected several cars behind him. From that point, Kyle Busch lost track position and could not recover during the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Denny Hamlin described what led to the contact during the NASCAR Cup Series race.
“Things are not going well in the Kyle Busch camp. They’re all searching. Riley Herbst got into him. [They were telling] Riley Herbst right before he got into Kyle Busch, saying, ‘Drive right into his left rear.’ And they literally drove into his left rear. Didn’t take much, I mean, he barely touched him, but, nonetheless, it ended in the result of Kyle Busch spinning and getting crashed.”
Kyle Busch continued but had to deal with a loose car and heavy traffic. He later finished 25th, two laps down, in the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway, another difficult result in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Denny Hamlin Breaks Down Kyle Busch’s Move Late in the NASCAR Cup Series Race
Denny Hamlin returned to the late incident that happened on lap 498 at Bristol Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series race. Kyle Busch closed in on Riley Herbst as the laps ran out in the Food City 500. He made contact through the corner, and Riley Herbst hit the outside wall. NASCAR threw the caution, which changed the finish of the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Denny Hamlin explained the intent behind the move.
“It’s not short track racing, he wanted to pay him back. Did you listen to the team radio? They had met their fun quota on the day.”
Denny Hamlin also addressed the timing of the contact between Kyle Busch and Riley Herbst.
“Kyle saw an opportunity, and he took it. Did I have a problem with it? Yes and no, but more no than yes. I don’t love the just blatant retaliation, but I’m more no than yes.”
The caution erased the lead and forced overtime at Bristol Motor Speedway, bringing the field back together in the NASCAR Cup Series race.
Team Radio During the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway Shows Tension
Radio traffic during the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway showed frustration inside the Kyle Busch team during the NASCAR Cup Series event. After the earlier spin, spotter Derek Kneeland tried to settle things on the radio.
“Listen, I know you’re frustrated. I don’t like running on the 30th either. But us yelling at each other during the race isn’t going to help sh*t. We’ve got to keep the glue folded together here. We’re all still in it, together. It’s not over. We’re only barely halfway through this thing.”
Crew chief Jim Pohlman replied with a short message.
“Yeah, copy. It’s the same sh*t every week.”
The exchange reflected Kyle Busch’s situation during the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. The contact with Riley Herbst earlier in the NASCAR Cup Series race and the late move added to a difficult day. The caution in the closing laps reset the field and changed the final run to the finish of the NASCAR Cup Series event.
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