FORT WORTH, Texas — Kyle Busch watched Sunday’s race from the pit box after NASCAR parked him for the weekend.
NASCAR barred Busch from driving in Saturday’s Nationwide race and Sunday’s Cup race for wrecking Ron Hornaday in Friday’s Camping World Truck Series race at Texas Motor Speedway.
Michael McDowell drove in place of Busch and finished 33rd.
Busch spoke to the team before Sunday’s race, apologized to the crew and asked if he could watch the race on the pit box, crew chief Dave Rogers said.
Sunday, Busch’s sponsor M&M’s posted this statement on its Facebook page:
“The recent actions by Kyle Busch are not consistent with the values of M&M’s and we’re very disappointed. Like you, we hold those who represent our brand to a higher standard and we have expressed our concerns directly to Joe Gibbs Racing.’’
KESELOWSKI UPSET: Brad Keselowski entered Sunday’s race fourth in the points standings but saw his slim title hopes fade with a 24th-place finish.
Misfortune struck during a pit stop about 65 laps from the finish when Keselowski was trapped in his pit stall and backed into Denny Hamlin, causing damage to both cars.
“It was my fault 100 percent,’’ Keselowski said. “It started with (Ryan Newman), who didn’t even try to get into his pit stall and made every effort he could to block us in. It’s (expletive) team orders (expletive). He deserves his (rear) kicked for that. Lost all respect from me. I lost my cool, accordingly, and forgot about (Hamlin) behind him and backed into him. It hurts our (title) shot. Our shot was really hurt after Martinsville.’’
Newman is a teammate to Tony Stewart, who entered the race second in the points.
Keselowski apologized to Hamlin’s team after the race in the garage area.
He then went to Newman’s crew chief, Tony Gibson, and expressed his displeasure about how Newman stopped in his pit stall during the race.
ANOTHER STRONG RUN: Kasey Kahne finished third Sunday, marking the fifth time in the last six races he’s placed sixth or better.
Kahne makes this run as questions continue about if the team will be back. Red Bull Racing has stated it is not planning to operate the team next season. Kahne will drive for Hendrick Motorsports next year with crew chief Kenny Francis joining him there.
“The Red Bull team just keeps doing a good job,’’ Kahne said. “They’re working hard. It’s pretty impressive for a lot of them not knowing their future, not knowing what’s going on there, if there will be a two-car team or one-car team to keep putting the cars on the track like they are.’’
PIT STOPS: Kevin Harvick finished 13th and remains third in the standings, but is now 33 points back. He did not talk to reporters after the race. ... Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch and Ryan Newman were officially eliminated from winning the title. ... Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished seventh for the second consecutive race. ... Jimmie Johnson finished 14th after spinning.
Contact Dustin Long at 373-7062 or dustin.long@news-record.com
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