Busch offers his version of Newman incidents

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 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 last Saturday night’s race.

On Friday, Busch offered his version of events for the first time. He seemed agitated about the entire episode.

“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 a 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 an incident with Newman’s crew members after the race.

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 could 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.

Kyle Busch on pole

Kyle Busch captured the pole for the Sprint All-Star race for the second straight year.

Busch completed the unique three-lap qualifying that included a mandatory four-tire pit stop in 1 minute, 19.11 seconds. He was the last qualifier on the track and knocked Ryan Newman to the outside of the front row.

Denny Hamlin will start third, followed by Greg Biffle and Kevin Harvick.

Lofton wins first

Justin Lofton raced to his first NASCAR Truck Series victory, getting the jump on race leader Brad Keselowski on a late restart and holding on at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Lofton, who struggled with restarts earlier in night, became the fifth winner this year on the Truck Series. Keselowski finished second, and Todd Bodine was third.

Lofton had 15 top-10s in his previous 55 career Truck races.

Keselowski, looking to become the 24th driver to win in all three NASCAR national series, got bumped from behind by Ron Hornaday on one of the restarts and nearly got sideways. After the race, Keselowski had a verbal sparring match with Hornaday.