Boasting a zealous fan base, NASCAR has always tried to be a fan-centric sport. And it is not just the high-octane racing or the iconic tracks, each of which comes with a different set of challenges, that entices stock car racing enthusiasts. It is also the rivalries among the drivers that keep the fans attached to the sport. 

Among the long list of historic rivalries that fans love to tout, the one that is grabbing the attention currently is the one between Joey Logano and Kyle Busch, the inception of which was back in 2017, when the two drivers were embroiled in a physical brawl. While things may have settled down since then, a bitter reminiscence has always marked its presence between the two drivers. This hint of sourness was apparent in a pre-race interview with Kyle Busch ahead of the race at Nashville.

Kyle Busch draws the instance of his rival to assert his point during the pre-race interview

Only 10 races remain in the regular season of the 2023 Cup Series. Things couldn’t be more heated up and competitive at this point in time. With only a few berths left to secure for the playoffs, the drivers are ready to go the extra mile at an extra pace in order to enter the next stage. But given the flow and the results of the past races, it has become nearly impossible to choose a favorite. Even Kyle Busch asserts the notion but in a roundabout manner.

In the interview, Busch was asked if he feels that any driver has shown themselves to be the favorite to win the championship. The typical “Rowdy” response was offered: “No … I mean honestly, last year the #22 [Joey Logano] won the championship out of nowhere. They were terrible through the summer and it kind of looks the same right now. So anything can happen.”

To rewind back to the 2022 season, the Team Penske driver, was not among the most consistent drivers in the regular season, in which he secured 2 wins and 5 top-5 finishes. But he always made sure that he was in the mix. But the 33-year-old gave his all in the ultimate race to clinch his second title.

Nevertheless, Busch continued along the same lines. He added, “It’s hard for me to answer that question. Like are you a championship-caliber team? Well yeah, but I think there are probably 12 others, you know what I mean? It’s a lot more unknown with the Next Gen car, how you go to these race tracks, and how sporadic finishes can be. You think somebody is going to go out and win a race and they get wrecked, and then somebody else does that’s a surprise winner. So you just never know … you just have to play it out.”

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Though Busch tried to generalize his statement, it was clear that he is still bitter about last year’s results. He had to bow out of the competition after the Round of 16, securing finishes of 30, 26, and 34 in the round.

Joey Logano gives a befitting reply after being called “two-faced”

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Kyle Busch’s words in the pre-race interview couldn’t be more true. As per the trajectory of the season, it has become nearly impossible to ascertain a favorite. However, if the defending champion Joey Logano’s form is taken into account, the #22 has surely looked promising. With a victory and five top-5s, he has been the best in the Ford contingent.

However, the fans have not been deprived of the ensuing rivalry between the two Cup Series champions. This was evident after the race at Clash at Coliseum. Busch had called out Logano as a two-faced and expressed that it was impossible to race with drivers like him after Logano spun him during the race.

Logano took the blame for spinning Busch, but as a response to Busch’s accusations, the driver added, “I’ve heard Kyle say it before that I’m two-faced and that’s fine. I have a switch that I flip when it is time to go racing. I am out there to win and yes, I have to do what I gotta do to win.”  

Being the only two drivers in the current line-up with two championships each to their names, the battle between these two is surely heating up. While Busch has already three wins, Logano has only one and has to put up a tough battle to make it to the end and defend his title. 

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