For better or for worse, Kyle Busch was tweeting up a storm Sunday night.
Despite finishing a respectable third in the Auto Club 400, Busch was awfully frustrated after finishing two spots behind race-winner Martin Truex Jr. Part of that had to do with a wrong-way adjustment by a pit crew member during the final stage, which affected Busch’s ability to handle the No. 18 during the final laps.
What really set him off, however, was the apparent confusion over why he didn’t conduct a TV interview after the race.
Busch, who has faced criticism in the past for declining postrace interviews, claimed a lug-nut issue prompted NASCAR to park him at the end of pit road, which delayed his appearance near the garages. The ever-controversial driver offered context as to why he wasn’t one of the three drivers who spoke in the media center.
Another race-another moment in needing to defend non postrace interview. NASCAR parked me at the end of pit road for loose lugs. I then walked pit road the distance back to the turn into the garage and only MRN asked. TV was elsewhere. They had a shot, skipped it.
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) March 18, 2018
There was even a NASCAR person who walked w my PR person and myself and we asked if we needed to go to media center and we were told “all clear”.
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) March 18, 2018
From that point on, things really got weird.
Fans were eager to hear Busch’s postrace remarks, as they expected a textbook “Rowdy” blowup after the pit road mishap. But fans pounced when Busch was nowhere to be found, and that really didn’t sit well with the 32-year-old.
There were a lot of stupid things said in the ensuing Twitter feud, but here’s a sample:
Ah ha baby didn't finish 1st and not 2nd he wet his diaper and finish 3rd. @KyleBusch
— Bryan K Standifer (@standifer_k) March 18, 2018
Yeah and how did u do today? Where were u out there? Oh, at home? I’ll ship u my 3rd place diaper. 💩 https://t.co/l8F3sHqs9B
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) March 18, 2018
@KyleBusch well you did not finish second – you finished third – maybe next week you will finish fourth and so on until you finish last
— Lou Taylor (@taylorlst) March 18, 2018
Maybe. Just maybe that could happen. Do think that would b cool? So then u and all your keyboard keys can tell me how bad I suck for running top 5 each week? ⌨️ https://t.co/lRSzq0FPuD
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) March 18, 2018
Let’s see how pissy @KyleBusch will be in the post race interview
— Scott Leeper (@scottleeper1980) March 18, 2018
What post race interview?! Apparently I declined in case u were late to the party. https://t.co/8yRDFeEkG9
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) March 18, 2018
@KyleBusch ditched the media again typical
— derek (@dthibault8231) March 18, 2018
Yup. That’s me. If it’s typical then why should it not just b the normal? Why change? https://t.co/U5C168WXa9
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) March 18, 2018
@KyleBusch. You are not race car driver if you keep blaming your pit crew for mistakes. Also not do a post race interview. You are really a class act.
— Brian case (@Briancase6775) March 18, 2018
I’m 🤯 w this one https://t.co/Y7Joqm7wKs
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) March 18, 2018
@NASCARONFOX couldn’t “catch-up” with @KyleBusch. What an effing baby he is. God, it’s pathetic. Be a man & interview. #AutoClubSpeedway
— Alison Dockter (@alidockter) March 18, 2018
Damn right they “couldn’t catch up”. I walked right past them and they had 5min to prepare. 🤦🏻♂️ https://t.co/aIFgX3USuu
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) March 18, 2018
@KyleBusch why can you not talk to the media damm boy what are close to 30 it’s time to suck it up and be a man when shit goes wrong not run off and whine
— doug (@tdoug1970) March 18, 2018
I’m almost 33 thanks! Be happy to talk. Whenever they want. https://t.co/sbhWujtM4T
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) March 18, 2018
https://twitter.com/GlennCarter74/status/975523473354313739
Wrong. If tv didn’t want to interview me after I won a race I could care less. I did my job. They just happen to b there in our celebration. U can continue to b your douchey self tho. Your “entitled” too. https://t.co/u2OFvQh03n
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) March 19, 2018
https://twitter.com/mark_martin757/status/975528567114223616
And comments like yours make me wonder who raised you. Must come from experience. https://t.co/uc0aUzfMfd
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) March 19, 2018
https://twitter.com/USA_for_MOD/status/975542135234617344
Damn. Now it’s just getting mean. https://t.co/7bczj16v0m
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) March 19, 2018
Yikes.
At one point, Busch offered his thoughts on how NASCAR should handle postrace interviews.
What seriously needs to b determined is what’s the requirement post race. My suggestion is Top 5 required for TV interviews on pit road (this goes for TV too). TV can’t just skip a guy cause he’s not “a story” or not air the interview bc there wasn’t time to air it.
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) March 19, 2018
Also what r drivers supposed to do that get parked w loose lugs at the end of pit road? Stay by car and wait for tv? Walk to a bullpen area?
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) March 19, 2018
Finally, Top 3 finishers to media center. Not sure why this one stopped and went to Top 2 but I guess maybe it’s because we don’t do a “podium” in NASCAR so we r different.
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) March 19, 2018
Now, can Kyle Busch sometimes be a bit too insufferable? Well, yeah — but during a time when NASCAR needs its stars to generate fan interest, Busch might be just what the sport needs.
Just ask Dale Earnhardt Jr.:
Enjoy @KyleBusch engaging the haters along with his fans on twitter. Regardless of your opinion on him, he is great for @NASCAR. Never boring. Makes my new job easier.
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) March 19, 2018
Tough to argue with that.
At the end of the day, every sport needs a good villain, and Busch certainly fits the bill for NASCAR. He also represents the best of both worlds: A polarizing personality who generates headlines with his mouth, as well as a great driver who generates them with his performance on the track.
