NASCAR Cup Series

Will Kyle Busch pay Carl Edwards back for Richmond bump?

Published May. 18, 2016 12:39 p.m. ET

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Remember the finish to last month's Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond International Raceway? Kyle Busch sure does.

Busch took the lead of the race on Lap 365 and appeared headed for victory, but on the 400th and final lap, Busch's Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Carl Edwards put the  bumper to Busch and moved him out of the way. 

Edwards did not wreck Busch, but there's no question he wouldn't have gotten past Busch without hitting his car.

Tuesday at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, I asked Busch if the two patched things up after Richmond.

His answer seemed to indicate that the contact has been forgiven, but certainly not forgotten. And if he gets a chance to return the favor at some point, Busch indicated he will.

Busch said the team talked about the incident the Tuesday after Richmond, when Edwards was away at a tire test and then with him present at the team meeting the next week. 

"We talked about it again the following Tuesday about what Joe's expectations are for all of us and how we should race each other," said Busch. "Essentially, it comes down to no team orders. Do what you feel like is right and you know, you better expect it on the back side."

The JGR organization has dominated the NASCAR season to date, when seven of 12 races, with all drivers visiting Victory Lane already. And while having four star drivers on the team might seem to be a delicate balancing act of keeping all the egos in check, Busch said it's easier to get along when everyone is running well. 

"I think the internal pressure is actually less when we're all just as good as each other and we all have the capabilities of going out there and win each week," said Busch. "What I look at is one day it may be (Matt) Kenseth's day, one day it may be my day, one day it may be Denny's (Hamlin) day. Who knows, right?

"You've just got to take those days when they come to you and try to make sure you take advantage of it when you get it."

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