Kyle Busch apologizes for profanities
NASCAR driver Kyle Busch apologized on Thursday for obscenities directed at Toyota Racing Development after a fuel mileage issue probably cost him a win at Dover International Speedway, multiple media outlets reported.
After finishing seventh in the race he led for 302 of 400 laps, Busch radioed, "Thank you, TRD. (Screwed) us out of another one." He then referred to the engine manufacturer with two more profanities.
Busch said in a statement released by TRD and Joe Gibbs Racing that his remarks were "very misguided."
"I owe my friends at Toyota and TRD an apology," Busch said. "We have a great partnership with TRD and they built me a motor that helped me lead over 300 laps and nearly lap the field. It's just frustrating that the caution fell where it did, and suddenly it became a fuel mileage race and we were set up for maximum horsepower. Obviously, that worked well for most of the day and you can't control when the cautions will fall.
"I think we have a great partnership with TRD and we will continue to communicate with them on what our team is looking for. I'm looking forward to getting down to Talladega this weekend and focusing on the race."
Busch missed the Chase for the Sprint Cup for the second time in four seasons.
"We understand Kyle's passion for racing -- and winning," Lee White, president and general manager of TRD, told SiriusXM NASCAR radio. "At TRD and Toyota, we have that same zeal for racing -- and winning. We were disappointed with Kyle's postrace comments from Dover -- a race that he dominated. Kyle's had a frustrating year with several car and engine mechanical failures which were not his responsibility, and we're working extremely hard on our end to improve our products and processes. We will continue to address these issues, but we're ready to put this behind us and move forward with the remainder of the season, including the Toyota drivers battling for the championship."
According to USA Today, NASCAR points leader Brad Keselowski, who has feuded with Busch in the past, posted on Twitter: "JGR/Trd statement reminded me of a saying 1 of my teachers used to say, 'with friends like this, who needs enemies?'"
