The $100,000 bounty on Kyle Busch has its first contenders.
Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson each confirmed Thursday evening on Twitter that they’ll take a shot at the bounty placed by Kevin Harvick and Marcus Lemonis last week.
Elliott will compete in the March 14 Truck Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway and the May 30 race at Kansas Speedway with GMS Racing. Larson will compete with GMS Racing in the March 20 event at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Elliott will be sponsored by Hooters for the Atlanta race.
The declarations by the two drivers came the same day that Busch said he didn’t believe any full-time Cup Series drivers would go after the bounty.
Elliott has 12 career Truck Series starts. His last two, at Atlanta and Martinsville in 2017, came with GMS Racing. Elliott won the Martinsville race. Busch was not in that race.
“Once the word got out about the challenge, we were able to put this together with Mike Beam at GMS in just a couple of days,” Elliott said in a press release. “Atlanta is one of my favorite tracks, so I’m really looking forward to getting back into a GMS truck there with Hooters on the truck and make a run for a win.”
Larson has 13 career starts and his last three, including a win at Eldora and top five at Homestead in 2016, came with GMS Racing.
“When I heard about the $100,000 bounty I wanted in!” Larson said in a press release. “I’m thankful for GMS and Chevy giving me this opportunity, Homestead is one of my favorite tracks so looking for to the challenge!”
There’s a potential third bounty hunter waiting in the wings.
Not long after Larson’s announcement, Denny Hamlin, Busch’s Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, tweeted that he’s acquired the funding to field a ride. There’s just one hangup, and it’s Kyle Busch Motorsports:
How about this.. get your founders to accept my sponsor at KBM. When I win i will I’ll donate 50k to your cause.. https://t.co/nZXof2rUGX
— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) February 28, 2020
The $100,000 bounty against Busch was proposed by Harvick and Lemonis, CEO of Gander RV & Outdoors, last week. It will go to any full-time Cup Series driver who beats Busch in any of his remaining four Truck Series starts this year. Busch has won the last seven Truck Series races he’s entered.
If Elliott or no other Cup driver beats Busch in those four races, the bounty will go to the Bundle of Joy Fund, the organization founded by Kyle and Samantha Busch that helps couples who require fertility treatments to conceive.
“We are blessed with this opportunity. To have an owner that is up for the challenge and a manufacturer that will support the extra effort necessary is really special,” said Mike Beam, President of GMS Racing, in a press release. “It’s great to have these two talented young men back behind the wheel for us and to have the extra attention on the Truck series is great.”
Challenge accepted. I’ll see you all in Atlanta. @KyleBusch @KevinHarvick @marcuslemonis. Thanks to @GMSRacingLLC and @HootersRacing!!! #GameOn #di9 https://t.co/hQR0ZhtKyh
— Chase Elliott (@chaseelliott) February 27, 2020
Count me in for @HomesteadMiami! Thanks for the opportunity to make some cash money @GMSRacingLLC and @TeamChevy.
— Kyle Larson (@KyleLarsonRacin) February 28, 2020
That’s my boy!!! #gameon https://t.co/koF1pom4QK
— Kevin Harvick (@KevinHarvick) February 27, 2020
🚨 PSA 🚨: Kids 12 and under can get a ticket to see @chaseelliott battle for the bounty AND catch the @NASCAR_Xfinity race immediately following for FREE! pic.twitter.com/79XtuOZfjI
— Atlanta Motor Speedway (@ATLMotorSpdwy) February 27, 2020
I was and it is a huge compliment form KH. But I don’t think the “all in good fairness” comment form Kevin came til after I said press comments. All in good fun… I’m good w it! 🏁 https://t.co/4BGj2q7ElI
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) February 28, 2020
Close… everyone was pissed KYLE BUSCH was dominating truck series, now everyone is excited that OTHER cup drivers r running truck series. (Thanks to KH and ML) https://t.co/Y1jnS6PR3t pic.twitter.com/mkda8YcTSh
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) February 28, 2020