Keselowski Reflects on Rivalry with Busch
In light of Kyle Busch’s unexpected passing at the age of 41, Brad Keselowski, a long-time competitor and fellow driver, shared his thoughts on their rivalry.
On Thursday, Keselowski expressed his sentiments in a social media post, recalling their over 15-year history. He mentioned, “I let him win every now and then and perhaps took a few victories from him along the way. We exchanged barbs in the media and on the racetrack.
“But I’d like to think that, beneath all that, there was an unspoken respect. We pushed each other to excel, even if we never really acknowledged it directly.”
When asked about Keselowski during a media day back in 2017, Busch candidly remarked, “You actually hate the guy sometimes.” Yet, their relationship included many different chapters.
There was a notable incident in 2010 when Keselowski referred to Busch as a “son of a bitch” after a race in Bristol, where they tangled, resulting in Keselowski crashing and Busch seizing the win.
Keselowski, using a Looney Tunes analogy, noted that despite their contentious history, it feels a bit surreal now that Busch is gone. “I feel like a coyote tonight without a Road Runner to chase,” he added.
Reflecting on the loss, Keselowski emphasized, “This loss is felt by all of us, but it hits hardest for his family. My thoughts are with Samantha, Brexton, and Lennix, who all lost their father today.”
As their careers begin to wind down, both drivers have shown indications of mending their rivalry. Since 2023, each has only claimed a single Cup Series victory.
“I want to reignite that rivalry,” stated Keselowski, suggesting that it signifies competition for wins.
Keselowski’s not alone in his complicated feelings toward Busch, as many in NASCAR feel similarly about one of the sport’s standout drivers.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. also shared a tribute following Busch’s death, stating, “Kyle and I really had a tough relationship for several years. Fortunately, we eventually took the time to appreciate our differences, having conversations on the bus about how we each managed our racing teams.”
