Chase Elliott arrived at Richmond last weekend riding an impressive streak, having finished every one of his previous 27 NASCAR Cup races, including 24 without a DNF during the 2025 season. That streak came to an abrupt end at Richmond, where a collision involving <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/tag/kyle-busch/”>Kyle Busch prematurely ended his night and dashed his hopes for the regular-season championship.
Although frustrated, Elliott acknowledged Kyle Busch’s apology following the crash, recognizing it as a genuine mistake rather than a deliberate action. This exchange marked a notable moment given Busch’s reputation in the NASCAR community.
Explaining Elliott’s Decision Not to Blame Busch for the Richmond Incident
Elliott was clear that Busch reached out after Saturday’s race to apologize for the contact that ended his run. The incident unfolded during a restart when Chase Briscoe slowed suddenly, causing Busch to swerve into another lane and trigger a massive 12-car pileup along the front stretch. Elliott, close behind, thought he had navigated the chaos but was hit when Busch, apparently unaware that Elliott was alongside him on the bottom lane, tapped his bumper.
The impact sent Elliott’s No. 9 car crashing hard into the wall, ending his race immediately. Still, Elliott refrained from assigning blame, emphasizing that Busch maintained a sincere apology and that the collision was an unfortunate accident.
Chase Elliott said today that Kyle Busch reached out to apologize for the contact that ended Elliott’s race and regular season title hopes that Richmond. Seems like Kyle was just getting his bearings and didn’t realize other cars were coming through on the bottom.
Chase said he… pic.twitter.com/2THFcqsuxI
— Steven Taranto (@STaranto92) August 19, 2025
Reflecting on the apology, Elliott stated,
Kyle did reach out to me,
and added,
He apologized for what happened. I don’t have any differing opinion on it. I was never mad at him. I knew it was a mistake right when I saw it. It sucks and I hate it.
He further explained,
It obviously killed our night and our regular-season championship hopes, kind of all at the same time. But I knew it was nothing that he (Busch) did on purpose. It wasn’t anything aimed at us. It was just the way that it all went down, and unfortunately, we were on the bad end of it.
Regarding Busch’s view of the moment, Elliott noted,
He didn’t realize we were all coming by down there on the bottom. Obviously, he just got through the wreck like a lot of us who had kind of been in it.
Impact of the Richmond Crash on Elliott’s 2025 Cup Series Campaign
Elliott finished last among the 38-car field at Richmond, marking his second consecutive race finishing outside the top 20. Prior to this year, Elliott had nearly completed every lap at all events except one Bristol race. Before Richmond, he held second place in the Cup standings, trailing teammate William Byron.
This crash extinguished Elliott’s opportunity to climb the leaderboard and vie for the regular-season title during the upcoming Daytona finale, delivering a significant setback to his championship aspirations.
The Uncommon Nature of Kyle Busch’s Apology in NASCAR Culture
Kyle Busch, often called ‘Rowdy,’ is known across NASCAR for his aggressive driving style and a general reluctance to admit fault publicly. His history includes infamous run-ins such as spinning Ron Hornaday Jr. in a 2011 Truck Series race without apology and engaging in a physical altercation with Joey Logano in 2017.
Because of this background, Busch’s reaching out with an apology stands out and is unusual within the sport. Elliott’s response, choosing not to harbor resentment, highlights a rare moment of accountability and mutual respect amid intense competition.