Kyle Busch set for round 2 vs. Harvick

Associated Press

DARLINGTON, S.C.

Darlington Raceway is bracing for Round 2 between Kevin “The Hitman” Harvick and Kyle “Rowdy” Busch.

Track president Chris Browning said he knew from the moment Harvick and Busch tangled after last year’s Southern 500 his people would have the perfect way to sell this weekend’s Sprint Cup race.

Harvick left his car, punched at Busch through the window of his No. 18 Toyota before Busch pushed Harvick’s machine out of the way to leave.

Fans cheered and Browning had his ad campaign.

“I told our guys,” Browning recalled, “‘Look, our creative [thinking] is done. This is what we need to do.”’

The combatants aren’t thrilled about the idea.

“I think it’s dumb. It’s pretty stupid,” Busch said at Richmond a couple of weeks ago.

Harvick was less blunt, yet still believes it’s easier to race when you’re not in the midst of controversy.

“It’s just easier to not to have to answer the questions from your sponsors, or your team,” he says.

Busch, Harvick and Clint Bowyer were three-wide on the narrow racetrack during a late restart when all were trying to chase down winner Regan Smith. Bowyer went sprawling into the interior wall after contact. As cars spun out behind, Busch gathered his machine, then veered down the track and sent Harvick spinning.

On pit road Busch was up against Harvick’s back bumper when Harvick jumped out and rushed toward Busch’s window where it looked like he took a swing at Busch.

Busch bumped Harvick’s driverless car into the interior wall and headed into the garage.