Kyle Busch fracas enables brother’s All-Star victory

CONCORD, N.C. -- The two hottest drivers in NASCAR lined up side-by-side for a final dash toward a cool $1 million prize.

But when Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch tangled in their race for the lead, Kurt Busch sailed through the carnage to steal a victory in Saturday's Sprint Cup All-Star race.

The 2004 series champion from Las Vegas was ecstatic as he crossed the finish line for his first career All-Star victory. His younger brother, furious at Hamlin, was waiting back at the team hauler for his teammate after unleashing an expletive-laden tirade over his radio.

"Somebody better keep me away from Denny Hamlin," Kyle Busch shouted. "I swear to God, I am going to kill (him). All his ... fault. I had this race won! It was won!"

Hamlin and Kyle Busch, who have combined to win five of the last seven Sprint Cup Series races for JGR, were racing for the lead in the final segment of the annual All-Star event when Hamlin tried to block Kyle Busch's attempt at a pass.

The defensive move pinched Kyle Busch against the wall, and the contact sent him sliding back through the field. He later hit the wall again hard and bounced into Kasey Kahne to officially end his night.

Instead of taking his car to his own team hauler, he drove it over to Hamlin's and angrily punched the air after climbing from the car. Helmet and safety devices still on, he walked directly into Hamlin's truck while team owner Gibbs followed closely.

Hamlin, after finishing fourth, was directed by his team not to go to his truck. He stopped his car at the entrance to the garage, where he was met by several team members who escorted him to the hauler. The doors were closed behind him after he entered.

After a lengthy meeting, moderated by Gibbs and highlighted by a group viewing of a replay of the incident, a scowling Busch emerged from a side door and didn't stop to comment.

Hamlin, after more discussion with Gibbs, came out smiling and said everything was fine.

"That's Kyle in the moment," he said of Busch's radio threat. "I told him my job as the leader is to do everything I can to win that race. And this race in specific is a much different beast than what a points race is. I think he understands that now, from my standpoint, that we're going to drive each other different. No doubt about it."

Gibbs, who had to moderate a similar meeting several years ago between Hamlin and former JGR driver Tony Stewart, also tried to diffuse the drama.

"We've got good cars," Gibbs said. "When you have good cars and good drivers, you're going to be up front and this can happen. You can get a situation where two guys are racing each other hard and both of them have a burning desire to win the race.

"Basically, what we did is we just met, talked it over. I think the guys had a great discussion and, hey, we left it there."

It took the spotlight away from Kurt Busch, who had no trouble closing out the victory over several late restarts. He beat Martin Truex Jr., who won the preliminary Sprint Showdown to transfer into the main event, by 0.358 seconds.

"This is huge," Kurt Busch said. "This is one of the marquee events. This, Daytona, the (Coca-Cola) 600, Indy ... This is a wonderful win for us."

Joey Logano, the third JGR driver, finished third and said he would avoid stopping by Hamlin's hauler.

"I know nothing," he laughed. "I am not going near them. All I know is they are cool with me."

Stewart, last year's All-Star winner, finished fifth, followed by Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle and Bobby Labonte.