LAS VEGAS – Fresh off Kyle Busch’s seventh NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series win in a row Friday night at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, a bounty has been placed on the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion.
Longtime Busch rival Kevin Harvick and Marcus Lemonis, the chairman of series entitlement sponsor Gander RV & Outdoors, have each pledged $50,000 to any NASCAR Cup Series driver who can come into the Truck Series and beat Busch at his own game.
The rules are simple. Busch must be beaten by a full-time Cup Series driver in any of the four remaining Truck Series events that he’s entered in this year for said driver to collect the cash.
Busch will be back in the Truck Series field at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway on March 14, Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway on March 20, Texas Motor Speedway on March 27, and Kansas Speedway on May 30.
The challenge was sparked on Twitter Saturday, while the Cup Series was waiting out the rain in hopes of qualifying at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
I like this so let’s make this fun. I’ll put up a $50,000 bounty for any full time cup driver who races a truck and can beat @KyleBusch in his next 4 races. #gameon https://t.co/BRjLCTxFJQ
— Kevin Harvick (@KevinHarvick) February 22, 2020
Sounds good to me!!! $100,000 grand boys!!! #gameon https://t.co/YtlsMWx5ka
— Kevin Harvick (@KevinHarvick) February 22, 2020
The catch? It has to be clean. For a driver to cash in, they can’t wreck Busch for the win.
Gotta be fair and square. First FULL TIME CUP driver to beat him. Can’t wreck him, and everything has to be fair as in any other race. Good friendly fun!!! https://t.co/SgO2MabpJK
— Kevin Harvick (@KevinHarvick) February 22, 2020
Told about the bounty when he came into the media center after NASCAR Cup Series qualifying was washed out Saturday afternoon, Busch was less than impressed.
“Well, there just better be an asterisk on it because if somebody crashes me, it doesn’t count,” Busch said. “Put money on a bounty on somebody and then bad things tend to happen. I don’t know. Make it whatever y’all want. It don’t matter to me.
“I’ve got great stuff (and) I’m a good driver. Bring it.”
If no one can beat Busch over his next four races, the $100,000 bounty will be donated to the Bundle of Joy Fund, Kyle and Samantha’s charitable organization which helps couples in need of fertility treatments in order to conceive, much like they needed themselves.
Now this is a plan! We will be expecting that donation because no one is going to beat our guy @KyleBusch. Please send a check this time because pennies are a chocking hazard to the babies. @KevinHarvick @marcuslemonis @FS1 @NASCARONFOX https://t.co/LutVeyAyN6
— The Bundle of Joy Fund (@bundleofjoyfund) February 22, 2020
Multiple Cup Series regulars have already expressed interest in the challenge, including Denny Hamlin, Austin Dillon and current Truck Series owner/driver Timmy Hill.
John Hunter Nemechek has committed to taking the challenge at Texas Motor Speedway, and perhaps sooner than that if the right funding is available.
I am in for the @NASCAR_Trucks @GanderRV Series at the @TXMotorSpeedway – maybe earlier to challenge. @romcoequipment | @NEMCOMotorsport | #NASCAR https://t.co/TmwKTjww4g
— John Hunter Nemechek (@JHNemechek) February 22, 2020
Regardless of whether the bounty is claimed or Busch goes undefeated, Harvick’s idea has certainly generated plenty of interest in the Truck Series for the next few weeks.
Lemonis is even trying to generate more viewership – if FOX Sports is willing to help out, that is.
If you @NASCARONFOX want to move this to @NASCARONFOX prime time then I’ll put up a much bigger purse for top 5 finishers and we will pack the stands. @NASCAR @GanderRV .. RT to help me make this happen $250k a big enough prime time purse ?? @KyleBusch @KevinHarvick @stevephelps https://t.co/BIa3QrG70u
— Marcus Lemonis (@marcuslemonis) February 23, 2020