Kyle Busch was ready to answer questions after finishing third Sunday at Auto Club Speedway, but the Joe Gibbs Racing driver said there weren’t many.
Now he wants to ensure there will be in the future, lobbying for an expansion of postrace driver media availability.
In a series of tweets after the Auto Club 400, the 2015 Cup champion explained he was parked at the end of the pits because of unsecured lug nuts on his No. 18 Toyota. He apparently was approached there only by a reporter from the Motor Racing Network.
During its postrace coverage, Fox Sports said none of its reporters had talked with Busch, who has faced criticism before for electing to decline postrace interviews after tough finishes. His mic drop after finishing second in last year’s Coca-Cola 600 also caused controversy with Busch later explaining he is wired to be emotional.
Another race-another moment in needing to defend non postrace interview. NASCAR parked me at the end of pit road for loose lugs. I then walked pit road the distance back to the turn into the garage and only MRN asked. TV was elsewhere. They had a shot, skipped it.
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) March 18, 2018
Busch also wasn’t brought to the media center for the postrace news conference. NASCAR’s PR staff typically brings the winning team, runner-up and a third driver of its choosing that often is the best storyline (which is sometimes the third-place finisher).
Though Busch and Kevin Harvick would have seemed to be involved in the best storylines Sunday after race winner Martin Truex Jr. and runner-up Kyle Larson, fourth-place finisher Brad Keselowski was chosen as the third attendee.
“I’m not really sure why I’m here,” Keselowski said with a smile. “I finished fourth.”
Busch also seemed surprised he wasn’t chosen to attend the media center news conference.
There was even a NASCAR person who walked w my PR person and myself and we asked if we needed to go to media center and we were told “all clear”.
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) March 18, 2018
He later advocated for mandating that the top three always are brought to the media center and also called on more clarity for postrace media obligations.
Finally, Top 3 finishers to media center. Not sure why this one stopped and went to Top 2 but I guess maybe it’s because we don’t do a “podium” in NASCAR so we r different.
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) March 19, 2018
What seriously needs to b determined is what’s the requirement post race. My suggestion is Top 5 required for TV interviews on pit road (this goes for TV too). TV can’t just skip a guy cause he’s not “a story” or not air the interview bc there wasn’t time to air it.
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) March 19, 2018
Also what r drivers supposed to do that get parked w loose lugs at the end of pit road? Stay by car and wait for tv? Walk to a bullpen area?
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) March 19, 2018
NASCAR declined comment on Busch’s remarks.
For the record (according to a Toyota release), here is what Busch responded when asked postrace about where Truex was beating him on the 2-mile oval: “Everywhere. Just thought we were closer than that but obviously not. We were right on top of (Truex) yesterday. The first run I thought we were really good and showed some strength but from there on out showed no strength.”
Armed with an apparently strong WiFi signal for his trip home to North Carolina, Busch was in a chatty mood on Twitter.
What post race interview?! Apparently I declined in case u were late to the party. https://t.co/8yRDFeEkG9
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) March 18, 2018
Damn. Sorry I missed it. Maybe my mom recorded it for me and I can watch it when getting my bottle before bed tonight. https://t.co/jAy7Iqu4s8
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) March 19, 2018
As Busch’s Twitter interactions grew (both with haters and fans) in the hours after the race, it caught the eyes of others in the NASCAR industry who were both amused and impressed.
Enjoy @KyleBusch engaging the haters along with his fans on twitter. Regardless of your opinion on him, he is great for @NASCAR. Never boring. Makes my new job easier.
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) March 19, 2018
How many 🍺 in are you @KyleBusch?
— Kyle Larson (@KyleLarsonRacin) March 19, 2018