Kyle Busch Apologizes to Chase Elliott After Richmond Crash, Shattering Championship Hopes

In a dramatic turn of events at the NASCAR Richmond race on August 16, 2025, Chase Elliott’s bid for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series regular-season championship suffered a devastating blow. Elliott, navigating a multi-car wreck on Lap 199 of 400, was clipped by Kyle Busch’s car on the right rear, sending his No. 9 Chevrolet careening into the wall at turn 4. The crash resulted in Elliott’s first DNF (Did Not Finish) of the season, effectively ending his chances of securing the 15 playoff points awarded to the regular-season champion.

Following the incident, Elliott revealed that Busch reached out personally to apologize. Speaking from Nashville, Tennessee, on August 19, while attending a media event at the K1 Speed indoor kart racing facility, Elliott said, “Kyle did reach out to me; he apologized to me for what happened. I don’t have a differing opinion on it. I was never mad at him. I knew it was a mistake right when I saw it.”

Despite the setback, Elliott remains in strong contention heading into the final race of the regular season at Daytona on August 23. He currently sits second in the Cup Series standings, 61 points behind leader William Byron. Reflecting on the crash, Elliott acknowledged the frustration of the situation but maintained perspective on Busch’s intentions. “It sucks and I hate it,” he said. “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 [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.”

Elliott’s Richmond crash came on the heels of his worst finish of the season at Watkins Glen, where he placed 26th. Despite the consecutive setbacks, he has enjoyed a strong 2025 campaign, including a victory at Atlanta on June 28 and 13 top-10 finishes. The Richmond incident, however, proved a stark reminder of the unpredictability of NASCAR racing, where even minor miscalculations can drastically alter championship trajectories.

Regarding the crash, Elliott said that Busch did not provide specific details about how the incident occurred or why he made contact. “He didn’t say anything specific. I don’t think he realized 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. When that stuff happens, it’s just really hard to pick up and recognize where everyone is at. There was a lot going on and I totally get it,” Elliott explained.

Busch ultimately finished 16th in the race, a result that contrasted sharply with the championship implications for Elliott. Nevertheless, Elliott’s professionalism in the aftermath has drawn attention, highlighting both the competitive intensity of NASCAR and the respect drivers maintain for one another despite on-track collisions.

Elliott, who won the regular-season championship in 2022 and the overall Cup Series championship in 2020, faces a challenging finish to the regular season at Daytona. The Richmond crash will undoubtedly be a motivating factor, as he seeks to rebound and close the season with a strong performance. His candid acknowledgment of the incident and Busch’s apology underscores the complex balance of rivalry, respect, and unpredictability that defines NASCAR racing.

As the series heads into its final regular-season race, fans will be watching closely to see if Elliott can overcome the disappointment at Richmond and make a final push toward the playoffs, proving once again that resilience is as much a part of racing as speed and skill.