Brad Keselowski criticizes Kyle Busch’s post-race behavior

Brad Keselowski can relate to Kyle Busch’s frustration over not winning, a natural emotion any competitor would feel in the aftermath of a tough defeat. But where Keselowski and Busch differ is how they handle that frustration, with Keselowski critical of Busch’s behavior following a race last weekend.

After finishing second to Austin Dillon Sunday in the Monster Energy Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Busch gave a churlish interview in the media center that included dropping a microphone on a table following a response to a question.

The video of the press conference went viral, and became a hot-button topic on talk radio, daily television shows, and social media over how drivers should conduct themselves publicly. Keselowski is firmly in the camp that believes Busch needs to have better control of his emotions, and not only condemned Busch’s actions but any media that advocated on his behalf.

“The way (the media) portrayed it is the hunger to win,” Keselowski said Saturday at Dover International Speedway, site of Sunday’s AAA 400. “There are some really funny bounces in life, especially in this motorsports world, but your desire to win is not connected to any of those types of pieces in my mind.”

“That’s one way of expressing it, but it’s not the only way to win. So when people go out and write articles or the media comes out and says that’s a reflection of him having the most desire to win makes me want to throw up. Not only is that a terrible message to send to anyone who’s aspiring to be a part of the sport, it’s a terrible message to send to anybody in general in this world, that it’s a reflection over your desire to win.”

Keselowski and Busch have had several run-ins on the track and are not close off the track, and Keselowski’s rebuff could be construed as someone taking a chance to poke a longtime rival.

But the Team Penske driver said his comments were coming from a father who doesn’t want his young child to see that kind behavior and think it’s acceptable. Interestingly, Busch also invoked his young child while explaining on Friday why he sometimes acts petulant when the outcome doesn’t go in his favor.

“Everybody is different, I can’t speak for him specifically but I can speak for the message,” Keselowski said. “If I’m going to send a message for my daughter or kids or fans of mine, I want the message to be, that it is not by any stretch of the imagination the true definition of the most desired, most passionate way to win.”

“You want to show me desire and passion to win, it’s when nobody is watching. That’s what desire and passion is to win.”