Kyle Busch’s run toward the top 30 in points suffered a serious setback on Sunday when contact from Brian Scott’s Chevrolet sent Busch’s Toyota into the outside wall in Turn 3 on Lap 376 of a scheduled 400.
Busch was running fourth at the time and made a move to pass Scott on the inside. Unaware the No. 18 Toyota was below him, Scott turned into Busch’s car.
“I apologize to @Kyle Busch, his sponsors, his team, his fans and all of JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing),” Scott posted to his Twitter account after the race. “100% my fault, I didn’t know he was underneath me until 2 late.”
The mea culpa, however, can’t undo the damage to Busch’s hopes of finishing in the top 30 in the standings 13 races hence. Since Busch missed the first 11 races of the season after breaking his right leg and left foot in a Feb. 21 accident at Daytona, he must win one of the next 13 races and finish in the top 30 in points to qualify for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
“I guess Brian said his spotter didn’t say anything and he just chopped the corner and I was under him already, and it just sucked me around,” Busch said. “I hate it. I hate it for my guys. Man, we had a really good run going, obviously — we ran in the top-five all day long.
“Just hate it for the Skittles Camry and everybody at M&M Mars. This is a shame. This isn’t what we need, and we weren’t going to win today, but it doesn’t help when you finish 40th.”
Actually, Busch was credited with a 36th-place result, but he leaves Dover 168 points out of 30th place, needing an approximate average of 15th place over the next 13 races to have a realistic shot at the top 30.
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