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Kyle Busch has conquered almost everything there is in NASCAR — two Cup Series titles, over 200 national series wins — but two major goals still haunt him. One is the elusive Daytona 500. The other? Running the Indianapolis 500.
Busch came close to crossing the second one off — twice.
This week on Denny Hamiln’s Actions Detrimental podcast, Busch revealed just how close he came to ticking the second one off his list — before Kyle Larson beat him to it.
“I had it signed, sealed and delivered again, and then Larson took it,” Busch admitted.
According to Busch a deal was nearly complete for him to race in the 2024 Indy 500 with McLaren, with a sponsor fully onboard. But a last-minute demand from McLaren CEO Zak Brown derailed it.
“Zak Brown told the sponsor, ‘Hey, I need you to buy the car,’” Busch explained. “And the sponsor was like, ‘Why do I want to buy the car? I’m sponsoring Kyle and he’s going to drive it.’”
Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson before the Daytona 500.Peter Casey-Imagn Images
Brown’s reasoning? Worry over potential crash damage and repair costs. Hamlin suggested a crash clause, but Busch said negotiations stalled — and that’s when Larson swooped in.
“It wasn’t two weeks later… [the sponsor] was like, ‘Yeah, we’re too late anyway now. The opportunity is closed because Larson got it,’” Busch said.
Larson, who is currently doing the Indy 500-Coca-Cola 600 double for McLaren and Hendrick Motorsports, reportedly signed a two-years deal, something Busch wasn’t planning on. “I just wanted one shot at it,’ he admitted.
But this wasn’t Busch’s first Indy 500 setback.
Years earlier, he had a deal lined up with sponsorship from M&M’s, only for Joe Gibss — then his Cup Series team owner — to block it.
“It was all done,” Busch said. “M&M’s was gonna do it. Guess who said no?”
“Joe Gibbs,” Hamlin replied, without hesitation. Busch confirmed.
He even approached Roger Penske, but was told they didn’t have the resources to field another competitive car.
Despite all the roadblocks, Busch says the Indy 500 remains on his bucket list — but unless the stars align soon, he might be watching from the sidelines once again.
Continue reading...
Busch came close to crossing the second one off — twice.
This week on Denny Hamiln’s Actions Detrimental podcast, Busch revealed just how close he came to ticking the second one off his list — before Kyle Larson beat him to it.
“I had it signed, sealed and delivered again, and then Larson took it,” Busch admitted.
According to Busch a deal was nearly complete for him to race in the 2024 Indy 500 with McLaren, with a sponsor fully onboard. But a last-minute demand from McLaren CEO Zak Brown derailed it.
“Zak Brown told the sponsor, ‘Hey, I need you to buy the car,’” Busch explained. “And the sponsor was like, ‘Why do I want to buy the car? I’m sponsoring Kyle and he’s going to drive it.’”
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Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson before the Daytona 500.Peter Casey-Imagn Images
Brown’s reasoning? Worry over potential crash damage and repair costs. Hamlin suggested a crash clause, but Busch said negotiations stalled — and that’s when Larson swooped in.
“It wasn’t two weeks later… [the sponsor] was like, ‘Yeah, we’re too late anyway now. The opportunity is closed because Larson got it,’” Busch said.
Larson, who is currently doing the Indy 500-Coca-Cola 600 double for McLaren and Hendrick Motorsports, reportedly signed a two-years deal, something Busch wasn’t planning on. “I just wanted one shot at it,’ he admitted.
But this wasn’t Busch’s first Indy 500 setback.
Years earlier, he had a deal lined up with sponsorship from M&M’s, only for Joe Gibss — then his Cup Series team owner — to block it.
“It was all done,” Busch said. “M&M’s was gonna do it. Guess who said no?”
“Joe Gibbs,” Hamlin replied, without hesitation. Busch confirmed.
He even approached Roger Penske, but was told they didn’t have the resources to field another competitive car.
Despite all the roadblocks, Busch says the Indy 500 remains on his bucket list — but unless the stars align soon, he might be watching from the sidelines once again.
Continue reading...
