Notebook: Busch-Reutimann feud still simmering

Notebook: Busch-Reutimann feud still simmering


FONTANA, Calif.—Kyle Busch hopes his feud with David Reutimann doesn’t lead to more action on the racetrack in Sunday’s Pepsi Max 400 at Auto Club Speedway, but that doesn’t mean the issues between the drivers have been resolved.
Asked Friday if he and Reutimann had spoken since they traded shots last Sunday at Kansas, Busch said tersely: “Nope.”
Asked whether the incident could escalate during the final seven Chase races, Busch was just as succinct. “Certainly could happen,” he said.
Busch spun Reutimann early in the race—unintentionally, Busch said—and later paid the price. Reutimann, who is not in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, knocked Busch into the backstretch wall. Busch salvaged a 21st-place finish but fell from third to seventh in the standings.
Reutimann said an apology from Busch relayed between spotters might have made a difference, but Busch wasn’t about to apologize, even though he freely admitted the first incident was his fault.
“I race guys how they race me, and I’ve always gotten raced really, really hard against David Reutimann—and I’ve gotten no room, no slack, no nothing,” Busch said. “I had the opportunity to pass him at Lap 30 in the race, and he raced me so hard it lost me two spots, and I just backed off.
“I said, ‘You know what, not the time in the race to do this, no big deal, I’ll get him back later.’ The next time I got back to him was Lap 50, and I didn’t cut him any slack. I got into him, which was my fault, not meaning to. Why would I apologize to a guy that races me like an asshole every week? There’s no point.”
Asked whether he expected more fireworks on Sunday, Busch said, “I certainly hope not.”
400 miles? Really?
Carl Edwards was looking forward to a grueling 500 miles at Auto Club Speedway—because no one had told the driver of the No. 99 Ford that Sunday’s race had been shortened to 400 miles.
“In all my media availability, I was talking about 500 miles,” said Edwards, who found out about the change less than an hour before Friday’s qualifying session started.
“I was really looking forward to the 500 miles. I like the grueling aspect of this racetrack and that long-distance race, but I think, for the fans, things are going to shake out. The fastest car will probably be leading by the 400th mile, so if that makes it a more exciting race, then that’s good.”
Wingo to Wood Brothers
Veteran Donnie Wingo has joined Wood Brothers Racing as crew chief for the No. 21 Ford driven by Bill Elliott. Wingo comes to his new job from Roush Fenway Racing where he served most recently as crew chief for David Ragan before being replaced in that role by Drew Blickensderfer.
David Hyder’s departure from the Wood Brothers, announced Wednesday, created the opening for Wingo, who will be on top of the pit box next weekend at Charlotte. Elliott and the Wood Brothers aren’t racing this weekend in Fontana.
What Hall of Fame?
You can’t blame Tony Stewart for a lack of focus on next Wednesday’s balloting for the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Stewart hasn’t paid attention to nominees for the Hall’s second class of inductees.
“I haven’t even looked to see who is on the ballots yet,” Stewart said Friday. “I’ve been a little busy. We’ve got this Chase thing that we’re doing.”
By Reid Spencer

Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service