Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson collide at entrance to pit road

Kyle Larson was bidding for his first career win, while Kyle Busch was in line for a good finish that would keep him in position to advance in NASCAR’s playoffs. Neither, however, accomplished their respective goals thanks to a collision entering pit road during Sunday’s Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The incident occurred as the field was under caution on Lap 195 with the leaders approaching pit entrance when Larson, running second, darted at the last second across the track in an effort to make it onto pit road. As he did so Busch, who was third, decided not to stop and attempted move back onto the track.

“What the f*** was he thinking?” Busch immediately radioed to his team. “He was never going to make the commitment cone anyway.”

The contact damaged the front of both cars, with Larson and Busch each needing additional time on pit road to make repairs. Larson explained his crew told him to mimic leader Joey Logano, who faked as if he was pitting then decided not to, but Larson then was instructed to stop regardless.

Busch would finish 20th, Larson 21st.

“I hung a left and Kyle was there,” Larson said. “I feel really terrible to ruin their day and hopefully it didn’t hurt their chances of transferring through this round. I know they deserve a top-three finish for sure. I felt awful immediately and still do. I hate it.”

The accident was especially costly for Busch, one of 12 drivers in the Chase for the Sprint playoffs with Charlotte the first of three Round 2 races before the four lowest ranked drivers without a victory are eliminated following the Oct. 25 event at Talladega Superspeedway.

Busch sits 10th overall, 10 points behind Brad Keselowski for the final transfer position.

“We stayed out there on that caution and (Busch) faked like he was coming and the 42 (Larson) was on the opposite end of the commitment cone and there was no way he was going to make it,” said Adam Stevens, Busch’s crew chief. ”(Larson) panicked. I don’t know what happened there, but them two came together.

“I don’t know what he was doing, but you’ll have that sometimes. I’m sure it wasn’t intentional.”

Busch’s day continued to go downhill, as he later ran through a patch of oil and slid into the wall further damaging the No. 18 car. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Sam Hornish Jr. also smacked the wall after driving through the oil and several other drivers reported fluid on the track.

“Thanks to NASCAR for cleaning that up,” Busch said sarcastically.