Less than two laps into Friday night's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Darlington, one of the heavy favorites was struck down.
Kyle Busch, the all-time winningest driver in Truck Series history with 66 victories, crashed out of the Buckle Up South Carolina 200 on the second lap, getting loose under race leader Corey Heim off turn two before sliding into the inside wall on the backstretch.
TROUBLE FOR KYLE BUSCH AT DARLINGTON Big damage. pic.twitter.com/NbUI5vk3AU
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 11, 2024
"It's done. Sorry, guys."
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 11, 2024
Kyle Busch's final Truck Series race of the season goes south on Lap 2 at Darlington. #NASCARonFS1 pic.twitter.com/DYPXd3luZG
Kyle Busch says his truck instantly stepped out on him off of Turn 2 on Lap 2: pic.twitter.com/t7tsVc2alG
— Toby Christie (@Toby_Christie) May 11, 2024
Busch's No. 7 truck was severely damaged, putting him five laps down when he rejoined the race on lap seven, effectively knocking the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion out of contention for his 67th career Truck Series trophy. While Busch was able to rejoin the race, it didn't take long for trouble to strike again.
On lap 12, Busch once more got in the wall, cutting a tire going into turn one right in front of the race leaders. Busch quickly pulled his damaged truck down onto the apron, where it was hooked to a wrecker.
His night is now over.
— Spire Motorsports (@SpireMotorsport) May 11, 2024
pic.twitter.com/bHOrsR08Ns
Darlington marked Busch's fifth and final allotted start in the Truck Series for 2024, as NASCAR only allows full-time Cup Series drivers to run five races in the Truck and Xfinity Series.
Busch won in two of his Truck Series starts in 2024, winning at Atlanta and Texas, respectively. He will take to the track next in the Goodyear 400 on Sunday, the 13th Cup Series race of the 2024 season.
Busch will finish Friday's race in last place, 32nd out of 32 trucks entered in the event.
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