Kurt and Kyle Busch are in Miami this weekend to take part in the international auto racing competition, Race of Champions. The exhibition event is two days and pits drivers from every major auto racing league against each other.
The Busch brothers are the only NASCAR representatives in the competition. They are joined multiple Formula One drivers, Verizon IndyCar Series drivers Helio Castroneves, Juan Pablo Montoya, Alexander Rossi, Ryan-Hunter Reay, James Hinchciffe and Tony Kanaan and action sports star Travis Pastrana. Prior to the start of the races, all of the drivers got psyched up together.
.@RaceOfChampions spirit! pic.twitter.com/QdmfY1iskd
— Kurt Busch (@KurtBusch) January 21, 2017
Some prep work with @KyleBusch. @MonsterEnergy @Haas_Automation #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/JLLewIORLY
— Kurt Busch (@KurtBusch) January 21, 2017
And right before the event began, Kurt Busch showed off his new No. 41 Monster Energy Ford by doing donuts in the middle of the race course.
@KurtBusch shows off his new @MonsterEnergy @StewartHaasRcng ride. #ROCMiami https://t.co/7DcknSEHKM
— Race Of Champions (@RaceOfChampions) January 21, 2017
But when it came time to race Kurt Busch’s had a tough day. He and former Formula One driver David Coulthard competed in the vehicles used in the NASCAR Euro Series and Coulthard crossed the finish line with a healthy lead over the Stewart-Haas Racing driver.
Kyle Busch was marginally better in his first race against F1 driver Jenson Button, who won but with the Joe Gibbs Racing driver right at Button’s rear wheel.
Photo finish! @jensonbutton beats @kylebusch at #ROCMiami https://t.co/6BJDXEI8Vr
— Race Of Champions (@RaceOfChampions) January 21, 2017
But Kyle Busch bounced back in his second race and defeated Hinchcliffe, which advanced him out of the first round. But he was eliminated from the competition when he was swept by Coulthard in the next round.
In Kurt Busch’s second race, he faced Hunter-Reay, who was one of his teammates when he competed in the 2014 Indianapolis 500. Busch won, but he wasn’t able to advance to the next round.
The competition was eventually won by Montoya, who is taking part in the Race of Champions for the first time.
Both Busch brothers will be back on Sunday to compete for the Nations Cup.
Hats off to the @therealdcf1. Took the Busch family tree out at @RaceOfChampions but @KyleBusch and I will be back for #NationsCup! #KB41
— Kurt Busch (@KurtBusch) January 21, 2017