Hamlin-Busch feud isn’t over

Associated Press

CONCORD, N.C.

Just as Kyle Busch settled into a chair in the media center Thursday, someone dropped a package in front of him.

It was a FedEx box. That’s Denny Hamlin’s NASCAR sponsor. Busch smiled, opened it up and found a pair of boxing gloves inside.

Busch initially shrugged off the gag that came five days after his on-track altercation with Hamlin in the All-Star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, but then sounded like he might consider going a round or two with his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate. If so, Hamlin is ready.

Ding, ding.

“Kyle brings this stuff on himself, and he gets mad at the media for asking him questions about his blowups,” Hamlin said. “But he does it to himself. I don’t want to be part of it.”

Although Busch insisted he and Hamlin have moved on from last weekend’s incident, he didn’t back down from radio chatter in which he threatened to kill Hamlin.

Any regrets?

“Absolutely not,” Busch said. “It was the heat of the moment and that’s who I am and that’s my expression and I am not going to be sorry for what I say. It’s freedom of speech.

Busch attempted to pass Hamlin for the lead with 10 laps to go in the non-points race, but Hamlin blocked him high and forced him into the wall.

A few laps later, Busch blew a tire and crashed. He responded by lashing out at Hamlin, threatening him over his team radio and then confronting him after the race.

Team owner Joe Gibbs stepped in and calmed Busch down. Busch ducked reporters afterward, making his media session Thursday his first reaction to the melee.

“Of course I was heated after the incident,” Busch said. “It surprised me and I wouldn’t have expected my teammate to race me that way, but he’s the leader, he’s got the race track and I now understand that.”

It remains to be seen whether they can work together, beginning Sunday in the Coca-Cola 600. Busch insisted they could. Hamlin said he’s “not going to put too much effort in it, to be honest with you.”