SPARTA, KENTUCKY – JULY 08: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 NOS Energy Drink Rowdy Toyota leads the field at the start of the NASCAR XFINITY Series Alsco 300 at Kentucky Speedway on July 8, 2017 in Sparta, Kentucky. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
As Erik Jones and Kyle Busch led the field to green, the caution flag flew thanks to the dreaded “games” seen on starts and restarts that impacted midfield.
As a result, the lap 1 crash sent some to the garage before they began.
Ryan Reed, who was involved in the accident, said on his radio that the field jumped on the restart. Next, they slowed down, causing the entire field to jam up.
The replays airing on NBCSN seemed to disprove this claim, and seemed to show that the flagman waited till the leaders were very late in the box to start the race. This was the procedure for the initial start, not the leader starting on lap one.
After the race, victor Kyle Busch was asked about the restart procedures.
“When you are the leader, you’re just watching your mirror and making sure those guys aren’t laying back,” Busch said. He added, “It seemed whenever Erik or myself are on the front row, guys are laying back more than normal to get a big run.”
This seemed to be the case on that first start combined with drivers trying to anticipate the start.
Busch also added that when he is behind the leader, he tries to be respectful. When running a half car length, maybe one, it is respectful of the leaders. Also, he seemed to believe he was being disrespected on several occasions.
Furthermore, Busch expressing his displeasure about the space between cars on the restart, and the games that were being played.
William Byron was also asked about the restarts in the media center as the highest finishing rookie, coming home seventh.
“I wasn’t on the front row so I’m not sure if games were being played, but you have take every advantage as you can and get as much as possible on the restarts,” Byron said. Furthermore, he was OK with what happened, not only with the initial start, but throughout the day.
Good or bad, games or not, Ryan Reed, Blake Koch, Brandon Jones, and Brendan Gaughan had early trips home after spending an extra day in Kentucky.
However, for the top six, including winner Kyle Busch, it’s time to cool off and wait for tonight’s Quaker State 400 .