Kurt Busch — the villain — is back

Associated Press

CONCORD, N.C.

Kurt Busch thought he and Ryan Newman were friends. He’s learned the hard way this week that he was mistaken.

Maybe that’s how it goes between drivers looking to lock down jobs for next year.

Busch is once again in the starring role as NASCAR’s resident villain, this time for a series of incidents involving Newman and his team last week at Darlington Raceway. It’s led to a series of scathing remarks from Newman, who has accused Busch in various interviews of having a “chemical imbalance” and lying about why he ran into the back of Newman’s car after Saturday night’s race.

On Friday, Busch offered his version of events for the first time. He seemed agitated about the entire episode, and characterized it as the kind of “WWE-type action” that fans enjoy.

“This is good for our sport. This is WWE-type action,” Busch said, snapping at reporters gathered behind his team hauler at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “This is fun. This is entertainment, right guys?”

The drama comes as NASCAR heads into tonight’s Sprint All-Star race, which is traditionally billed as no-holds-barred event with nothing more at stake than the $1 million prize.

Busch goes into the event fresh off a $50,000 fine he received Tuesday for what NASCAR said was reckless driving on pit road at Darlington and a post-race incident with Newman’s crew members.

It all began when a flat tire caused Busch to wreck with six laps remaining in the race. Newman, who was running behind Busch at the time, also spun as traffic stacked up trying to avoid Busch.

Busch then headed to pit road, and in his desire to not go a lap down, apparently sped through Newman’s pit stall. Some of Newman’s crew members were over the wall at the time, and complained they couldn’t have been hurt.

Busch insisted Friday no one was in danger. After the race, Busch ran into the back of Newman’s parked car, but said he was taking his helmet off at the time and didn’t see Newman’s car.

He was greeted on pit road by several angry crew members, which led to yelling and slight shoving.

NASCAR also placed Newman crew chief Tony Gibson on probation for failing to control his team.