Kyle Busch , known by his nickname “Rowdy,” and Kevin Harvick have never gotten along, especially not during last year’s Darlington Southern 500, where an on-track confrontation spilled over onto pit road after the race was over.
While the hot-headed driver has never been known for a calm temper, analysts are wondering if we will see a rematch during Saturday night’s race (probably because Busch is getting tired of being called to the Sprint hauler after a race).
That hasn’t stopped Darlington track president Chris Browning from marketing the night race as “Round Two” of “Rowdy” Busch vs. “The Hitman” Harvick.
He even stated that he knew from the moment the two tangled on-track that it would a fantastic way to market the 2012 race. Along with their on-track tangle, Harvick blocked Bush on pit road after the race, crawled from his car, and punched Busch in the face.
The (pride)injured driver then pushed the number 29 out of his way, and left the scene. Fans, of course, cheered for both drivers. From that moment, Browning knew he had found his ad campaign.
Browning remembers:
“I told our guys, ‘Look, our creative (thinking) is done. This is what we need to do.’”
So what do Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick think of the campaign?
When asked about it at Richmond, Busch remarked:
“I think it’s dumb. It’s pretty stupid.”
For once, it seems, the two agree. Harvick explained that it’s much easier to race, and focus on winning, when not in the middle of a controversy. He went on to say:
“It’s just easier to not to have to answer the questions from your sponsors, or your team.”
As for the consequences of the so-called “Round One” at Darlington, both drivers were fined $25,000, and were placed on probation. Just a few weeks later though, the two were at it again, fighting at Pocono, until NASCAR came on both drivers’ radios, telling them to cool it.
While they will most likely never be friends, I’m sure NASCAR hopes that Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick behave themselves during Saturday’s running of the Southern 500 at Darlington.
Check out footage of last year’s altercation here:
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