On an evening that Regan Smith’s upset and breakthrough victory at Darlington was big news; a driver feud involving Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick almost stole the show.
"I have no clue what happened in the race other than us winning," Regan Smith said, smiling. "If (Busch and Harvick are) what's talked about next week, so be it. I don't care. It's not going to take away from the feeling I've got right now."
Regan Smith and crew chief, Pete Rondeau, gambled on old tires and held off Carl Edwards who did stop on the last caution, on lap 360, for four fresh ones.
"Pete made a great pit call -- that won the race for us," said Smith celebrating his first NASCAR Sprint Cup win. "I don't really know how to put it in words right now -- it is so surreal," said Smith, whose previous best finish was seventh in the season-opening Daytona 500.
For Carl Edwards it was the second race this year where he was runner up to a first time winner at a key NASCAR race.
"Man, I really felt like that was our race to win," said Carl Edwards, "Regan is a heck of a guy. That's NASCAR racing. As upset as I am to have lost that race, I'm happy for Regan and his accomplishment. But, man, I'll run that one back a few times in my head." Which is what he said after finishing second to Trevor Bayne at the Daytona 500.
A restart on lap 363 set up the latest NASCAR driver feud. It began as a three-wide wreck, at the Lady in Black involving Clint Bowyer with Busch and Harvick like billiard balls bouncing off one another.
Clint Bowyer, running the low line went hard into the inside wall nose first. Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick played bumper cars down the track sending not-so-Happy Harvick into a spin.
As the two antagonists came into the pits there was another confrontation. Kevin Harvick, out of his car first through a punch at Kyle Busch through the driver’s side window. And the respective crews had a pit side confrontation.
"Just uncalled for and just unacceptable racing," said Kyle Busch. "It's in the last couple laps, but I gave him (Harvick) room off of (Turn 2), and I didn't get the room. Just real unfortunate. We tore up a few good cars there."
Kevin Harvick had few words then or after meeting with NASCAR officials after the race. "Things happen," he said with a smile. "That's it. What do you do? It's racing, I guess."
If any penalties are to be assessed they usually come on Thursday from NASCAR.
"I have no clue what happened in the race other than us winning," Regan Smith said, smiling. "If (Busch and Harvick are) what's talked about next week, so be it. I don't care. It's not going to take away from the feeling I've got right now."
Regan Smith and crew chief, Pete Rondeau, gambled on old tires and held off Carl Edwards who did stop on the last caution, on lap 360, for four fresh ones.
"Pete made a great pit call -- that won the race for us," said Smith celebrating his first NASCAR Sprint Cup win. "I don't really know how to put it in words right now -- it is so surreal," said Smith, whose previous best finish was seventh in the season-opening Daytona 500.
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| Regan Smith wins at Darlington - Photo: Nascar |
For Carl Edwards it was the second race this year where he was runner up to a first time winner at a key NASCAR race.
"Man, I really felt like that was our race to win," said Carl Edwards, "Regan is a heck of a guy. That's NASCAR racing. As upset as I am to have lost that race, I'm happy for Regan and his accomplishment. But, man, I'll run that one back a few times in my head." Which is what he said after finishing second to Trevor Bayne at the Daytona 500.
A restart on lap 363 set up the latest NASCAR driver feud. It began as a three-wide wreck, at the Lady in Black involving Clint Bowyer with Busch and Harvick like billiard balls bouncing off one another.
Clint Bowyer, running the low line went hard into the inside wall nose first. Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick played bumper cars down the track sending not-so-Happy Harvick into a spin.
As the two antagonists came into the pits there was another confrontation. Kevin Harvick, out of his car first through a punch at Kyle Busch through the driver’s side window. And the respective crews had a pit side confrontation.
"Just uncalled for and just unacceptable racing," said Kyle Busch. "It's in the last couple laps, but I gave him (Harvick) room off of (Turn 2), and I didn't get the room. Just real unfortunate. We tore up a few good cars there."
Kevin Harvick had few words then or after meeting with NASCAR officials after the race. "Things happen," he said with a smile. "That's it. What do you do? It's racing, I guess."
If any penalties are to be assessed they usually come on Thursday from NASCAR.