Ricky Stenhouse Jr. threatens to wreck Kyle Busch at Charlotte in Coca-Cola 600

That’s about as intense as it can get between two drivers. Regardless, the altercation stemmed from Stenhouse Jr. being put into the wall by Busch on Lap 2 of the 200-lap race.

With $1,000,000 on the line, both drivers were on edge and looking for every edge they could gain early in the race, and the money could’ve gone a long way from Stenhouse Jr.’s single-car team.

A large contingent agreed that on the ensuing replay, it looked like Stenhouse didn’t really do anything wrong to Busch. He ran up the middle and Busch got into the wall. So, the No. 47 wheelman was certainly stewing over the situation. 

“I’m not sure why he was so mad,” Stenhouse Jr. told FOX, following the altercation. “I shoved it three-wide, but I mean, he hit the fence and kind of came off the wall and ran into me. I don’t know, when I was talking to him he kept saying that I wrecked him. So, definitely built up frustration with how he runs his mouth all the time about myself, but I know he’s frustrated because he doesn’t run as well as he used to. I understand that. We’re a single-car team over here, we’re working really hard to go out and get better each and every weekend. 

“You know, we had a really good game plan coming in. Our car was really strong. Friday in practice I was looking forward to running to the front. I think we’d pass a couple of cars there. I was excited for the rest of the night and he ruined it. Being stuck in here definitely doesn’t help the frustration, if there was a tunnel I’d have probably been at home watching the end of that. So, here we are.”

Evidently, Busch’s frustrations were a long time coming. “I’m tired of being run over by everybody,” Busch told FOX. “But that’s what everybody does. Everybody runs over everybody to pass everybody.”

We’ll see if Ricky Stenhouse Jr. actually wrecks Kyle Busch at Charlotte, or if NASCAR steps in. Nevertheless, a ton of intrigue will be added to the Coca-Cola 600 after seeing the No. 47 and the No. 8 go at it in North Wilkesboro.

On3’s Jonathan Howard contributed to this article.