Kyle Busch had a clarification, a confession and a calling out of a rival driver during Daytona 500 Media Day, all related to his controversial comments about NASCAR marketing.
During the Media Tour last month, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver expressed dissatisfaction with NASCAR tilting toward asking younger drivers to do media opportunities, calling it “bothersome and stupid.” That prompted retorts from Darrell Wallace Jr. and Ryan Blaney, who said “I can tell you personally (Busch) doesn’t like to do a lot of stuff, and that’s why they don’t ask him to do a lot of stuff.”
Speaking with reporters Wednesday at Daytona 500 Media Day, Busch noted he can’t say no if he isn’t invited, pointing to a new commercial that began running last weekend about NASCAR.com’s new fantasy leagues.
“I wasn’t even asked for that one,” Busch said. “So Ryan Blaney telling me I say, ‘No,’ and that he knows personal and first-hand. He’s full of s-h-i-t.”
However, Busch was asked and agreed to take part in a NASCAR-organized preseason brand shoot with 16 other drivers, which he said went well.
“If I would have known that was coming four days earlier than I did, I probably wouldn’t have many of the comments that I had,” Busch said with a laugh. “You’ll see the commercial that comes out this week but it was a mix of the young guys, some of the old guys. Things like that that was going on. It’s a pretty cool spot. There’s some drama to it.”
