Busch Wins as Kenseth, Gordon End Up Angry

Kurt Busch’s friend and former teammate was in his way. So Busch banged Matt Kenseth aside, the first of two hard shoves Kenseth received, to win yet another race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Opinions differed after if Busch’s brash bump with four laps to go Sunday in the Food City 500 was out of line.

“We had to muscle past Matt Kenseth,” Busch said.

Said Kenseth: “I thought it was a cheap shot.”

Kenseth was leading, but had slowed because he couldn’t get past Dale Jarrett, who was fighting to stay on the lead lap. Tired of being held up, Busch rammed Kenseth’s back bumper to send him into a slide, allowing Busch to scoot on by for his fifth victory in the last nine Bristol races.

Kevin Harvick finished second and Kenseth third, but had to fight for it. He faded after Busch’s pass, worked his way back up but drew the ire of Jeff Gordon along the way. The two made contact in the closing laps that sent Gordon spinning all the way back to a 21st-place finish.

Gordon stalked Kenseth on pit road. When Kenseth approached in what looked to be an apologetic way, Gordon gave him a hard shove that knocked him back several feet. The two were quickly separated by officials.

Kenseth took responsibility.

“That was my fault, it was an accident and I didn’t mean to do it,” Kenseth said. “I would be hot, too.... I probably should have known better than to go over him.”