Latest
Sports
Newsletters
Think Tank
Case Studies
Latest
Sports
NFL
All News

NFC EAST

COWBOYS

EAGLES

COMMANDERS

GIANTS

AFC EAST

DOLPHINS

JETS

BILLS

PATRIOTS

NFC WEST

RAMS

CARDINALS

SEAHAWKS

49ERS

AFC WEST

RAIDERS

CHIEFS

BRONCOS

CHARGERS

NFC SOUTH

FALCONS

PANTHERS

BUCCANEERS

SAINTS

AFC SOUTH

TITANS

JAGUARS

COLTS

TEXANS

NFC NORTH

PACKERS

BEARS

LIONS

VIKINGS

AFC NORTH

BENGALS

RAVENS

BROWNS

STEELERS

College FootballCollege BasketballGolfTennisBoxingNBANASCAROlympicsUFCWNBAMLB
NewslettersThink Tank
Case Studies
Partnerships
Dude Wipes
Events
WNBA AllstarsUS Open Event
Latest
Sports
Newsletters
Think Tank
Case Studies
Latest
Sports
NFL
All News

NFC EAST

COWBOYS

EAGLES

COMMANDERS

GIANTS

AFC EAST

DOLPHINS

JETS

BILLS

PATRIOTS

NFC WEST

RAMS

CARDINALS

SEAHAWKS

49ERS

AFC WEST

RAIDERS

CHIEFS

BRONCOS

CHARGERS

NFC SOUTH

FALCONS

PANTHERS

BUCCANEERS

SAINTS

AFC SOUTH

TITANS

JAGUARS

COLTS

TEXANS

NFC NORTH

PACKERS

BEARS

LIONS

VIKINGS

AFC NORTH

BENGALS

RAVENS

BROWNS

STEELERS

College FootballCollege BasketballGolfTennisBoxingNBANASCAROlympicsUFCWNBAMLB
NewslettersThink Tank
Case Studies
Partnerships
Dude Wipes
Events
WNBA AllstarsUS Open Event
"Bully, never held accountable" — 50% say Busch deserved a penalty

Essentially Sports

May 7, 2026

Did Kyle Busch Deserve a Penalty?

Did Kyle Busch Deserve a Penalty?

49%

Yes, He Blatantly Wrecked Nemechek

251

37%

No, It Was a Racing Incident

188

10%

NASCAR’s Protecting Kyle Busch

49

4%

I Have a Different Take (Tell Us)

22

510 readers voted


**TLDR** — A decisive 50% of 494 fans polled say Kyle Busch blatantly wrecked John Hunter Nemechek and deserved a penalty, while just 37% shrugged it off as a racing incident. Another 10% went further, accusing NASCAR of openly protecting Busch, and 4% offered their own takes. The mood in the comments is sharp: one reader branded Busch a "bully, never held accountable" and a "Dale Earnhardt wanna be," while another argued NASCAR is shielding him simply because he was "smart enough to keep his mouth shut." The minority defending Rowdy framed him as "one of the last real racers left," insisting drivers should sort it out the old-fashioned way. But with half the room calling for punishment and another chunk crying favoritism, the verdict is clear — fans believe Busch crossed the line, and NASCAR's silence is only fueling the backlash.

We asked readers to weigh in — 20 shared their take. Here’s what they said:


Reader Reactions

20

i-have-a-different-take-tell-us

1j*n50@gmail.com

May 6, 2026 · 4:40 PM EDT

NASCAR is protecting (feeling sorry for) Kyle Busch, BECAUSE he was smart enough to keep his mouth shut (rare for him).

no-it-was-a-racing-incident

da****a****o****8@gmail.com

May 6, 2026 · 12:14 PM EDT

There's got to be some action!earnhart said hit me. Once,I'm hitting back! Hit me twice, you're going in the wall !!!

yes-he-blatantly-wrecked-nemechek

tr***a***l***0@hotmail.com

May 6, 2026 · 12:29 PM EDT

Bully, never held accountable. He's a Dale Earnhardt wanna be.

i-have-a-different-take-tell-us

mi****l***s****4@gmail.com

May 6, 2026 · 6:44 PM EDT

Personally, I believe the incident occurred well within the allotted time to throw a yellow, why it wasn’t, well, I am no NASCAR. Probably pissed Busch off to start with. ME

no-it-was-a-racing-incident

gk**e*0*8@gmail.com

May 6, 2026 · 3:37 PM EDT

Anytime you wreck a Toyota it is justified

yes-he-blatantly-wrecked-nemechek

sm****b***y***5@gmail.com

May 6, 2026 · 1:06 PM EDT

This is what's wrong with nascar.

i-have-a-different-take-tell-us

wd**d*v*s@gmail.com

May 6, 2026 · 12:19 PM EDT

NASCAR has turned into a "soap opera" . What a farce !

no-it-was-a-racing-incident

cc**0*o**r@gmail.com

May 6, 2026 · 3:57 PM EDT

Nemechek is a little punk and has a attitude too. He's aggressive and gets in many wrecks. He actually drove for Kyle's truck team years ago so you'd think he would have given his old boss a break and not wrecked Kyle. There's three pedals in those cars as Mikey Waltrip always says. Why not give some space instead of wrecking each other all the time. Maybe the owners should make the drivers fix the cars with their own money and time?? Banging doors used to be comon. Now it's just get out of my way or I'm going to wreck you. As far as Gibbs, he's a spoiled punk. I used to like him. Not anymore.

no-it-was-a-racing-incident

ma***s***n***i@gmail.com

May 6, 2026 · 7:35 PM EDT

But he didn't make a threat on the radio and than follow through with it ,

i-have-a-different-take-tell-us

kd***l***u***s@gmail.com

May 6, 2026 · 5:15 PM EDT

I'm sure both driver's are to blame. Then both should be warned and punished. I think the fine prices are out of control, but this way Nascar gets rich. That should have to stop.

i-have-a-different-take-tell-us

fr*d*8*8@gmail.com

May 6, 2026 · 3:05 PM EDT

If Busch had managed a top ten finish after wrecking Nemechek, it would be appropriate to dock some of his points. Since his stupid act also harmed his own finish, Nascar should let him off with a warning.

yes-he-blatantly-wrecked-nemechek

ca***j**g**3@gmail.com

May 6, 2026 · 9:29 PM EDT

Bush is just a little boy, stomping his foot and throwing a temper tantrum whenever he wants too! And NASCAR stands back & allows it. Why? He's just a jerk!

i-have-a-different-take-tell-us

bi****l***d***1@gmail.com

May 6, 2026 · 1:46 PM EDT

Busch is washed up and his glory days are gone and he knows it. So he's taking it out on the track and whoever is closest to him when he has a meltdown.

no-it-was-a-racing-incident

ca***a**1***7@gmail.com

May 6, 2026 · 7:14 PM EDT

Let them race and handle it like Sr., Allison, Cale, Pearson,and the real racers used to! If the babies can't take it... GET OUT!! Rowdy is one of the last real racers left!

i-have-a-different-take-tell-us

bm*ri*4@hotmail.com

May 6, 2026 · 1:51 PM EDT

Ii don't feel qualified to judge e this. Will leave it to the experts but, I do wish this beakering between drivers and causing crashes ruins the sport for me. Someone needs to lay down some rules to stop it.

i-have-a-different-take-tell-us

wo**y*n*z@gmail.com

May 6, 2026 · 12:37 PM EDT

I don’t think Busch needed to be penalized. However if not then Preece shouldn’t have been either. This looks bad for NASCAR….

nascar-s-protecting-kyle-busch

ed***a***s***0@gmail.com

May 6, 2026 · 12:58 PM EDT

I don’t care what anyone thinks NASCAR has its favorites. Busch should’ve been suspended and put on some kind of probation if he acts out again. He’s gotten away with too much thru the years

yes-he-blatantly-wrecked-nemechek

be**w*i**r@gmail.com

May 6, 2026 · 12:53 PM EDT

Not sure why they wouldn't suspend him. Even if the original incident may have been partially Nemechek's fault, its plain as day Busch wrecked him on purpose. Maybe Nascar will put him on double secret probation or something.

yes-he-blatantly-wrecked-nemechek

gm*ro*n@gmail.com

May 6, 2026 · 10:13 PM EDT

Busch should have been fined, but the sad part is what happened to Ryan Prease. Nascar car has to keep JGR happy, so Nascar is babing and protecting Ty Gibbs. This driver causes his own problems but not in the eyes of his grandfather, Joe Gibbs.

yes-he-blatantly-wrecked-nemechek

vr**i*g*1@gmail.com

May 6, 2026 · 1:00 PM EDT

He's an a hole, a whiner and complainer, like his wife.

ESSENTIALLYSPORTS

EssentiallySports is a sports media platform built for modern fandom and culture, giving equal coverage to the overlooked and the mainstream.

EssentiallySports Media, Inc. @ 2026 | All Rights Reserved

EssentiallySports

  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Authors
  • Editorial Team
  • Editorial Policies
  • In The Press
  • Contact Us
  • FAQs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Newsletters

  • Lucky Dog on Track
  • Essentially Golf
  • She Got Game
  • Essentially Dunk
  • Essentially Athletics
  • The Huddle
  • Chiefs Huddle
  • Cowboys Huddle
  • Steelers Huddle
  • Essentially CFB
  • Buckeye Daily

Podcasts

  • ES Think Tank
  • ES Fancast

Events

  • WNBA All-Star 2025
  • US Open 2025

Sports

  • All
  • Boxing
  • Golf
  • NASCAR
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • Tennis
  • UFC
  • WNBA
  • College Football
  • Track and Field
  • Gymnastics
  • Olympics
  • MLB
  • Soccer
  • Swimming
  • NHL

Privacy Policy

ES Pressroom

Ethics Policy

Fact-Checking Policy

Corrections Policy

Cookies Policy

GDPR Compliance

Terms of Use

Editorial Guidelines

Ownership and funding Information