Tulsa Shootout: Fight Breaks Out in the Pits as Kyle Larson Outraces Christopher Bell Amid Flared Tempers

The glamorous 40th Tulsa Shootout has been the talk of the time, all thanks to the kind of coverage it gets from all around the world. To add to that, the presence of NASCAR drivers like Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, and Kyle Busch, added to the X factor. Bell had been a top pick for many. The Oklahoma native boasts an impressive resume, including three Chili Bowl Nationals and a 2018 Winged Outlaw championship from the Shootout. He even took the lead and managed an impressive run. But this evening, Larson got a slice of luck on his plate, however, that slice of luck led to ugly scenes post-race as Daison Pursley and Clinton Boyles’ teams got into a scuffle.

Pursley and Boyles make way for Kyle Larson

With only 19 laps to go, it seemed as though the tables turned in favor of Larson. Going through the turn, Daison Pursley was in the lead followed by Clinton Boyles in the second position. However, soon Boyles and Pursley got entangled, Boyles’ No. 71S slightly pecked the 86 driven by Pursley and both the drivers came to a halt. This brought forth Kyle Larson to the lead who was still now in the third position.

However, soon after the race ended, there was some major drama in the pit lane, adding spice to the night end. One could see the team owner of the No. 71 (Boyles) car, Bernie Stuebgen, involved in a full-fledged fight with a crew member from the Paisley team. The altercation escalated in no time and the director of the operations for the race had to intervene so that there were no further injuries. FloRacing posted on X, saying, “DRAMA! The leaders tangle in the Winged A-Class feature at the #TulsaShootout presented by @NosEnergyDrink! Kyle Larson will now inherit the lead!“

DRAMA! The leaders tangle in the Winged A-Class feature at the #TulsaShootout presented by @NosEnergyDrink!

Kyle Larson will now inherit the lead! pic.twitter.com/62uObKzA2Z

— FloRacing (@FloRacing) January 5, 2025

Larson managed to hold on to his position through the remaining 18 laps. Meanwhile, Christopher Bell, who was one of the strongest contenders was in the 6th position during the crash and he moved up to 5th without much changes throughout the rest of the laps. Announcing the same, a post from Matt Weaver read, “Kyle Larson, from 12th, wins the Winged A Class Micro Tulsa Shootout over Parker Perry and Jett Yantis (21 to 3)  Christopher Bell finished fifth”. The night at the Tulsa Shootout will be remembered not just for Kyle Larson’s remarkable comeback victory but also for the intense on-track and off-track drama that kept the racing world buzzing.

Kyle Busch expresses his feelings about Kyle Larson

Just like Larson, the maiden run for Kyle Busch in the Tulsa Shootout has also gone pretty well. He secured a few heat race victories during the week’s opening events, offering a small redemption for an otherwise underwhelming Cup Series season which saw him winless. However, since his first run, there have been some dips in his performance. He recently shared about how he feels about the Tulsa Shootout and his true intentions. 

Speaking of the same, Busch said, “I’m just coming in here to have fun. No expectations. I’m not here to be a Kyle Larson or an Emerson Axsom or anybody that comes out here and lights the world on fire”. Busch further revealed that he wanted to get the perfect setup for his car before he moved forward and participated in the Chilli Bowl Nationals. The Tulsa Shootout is like a preliminary run to the same. 

However, Busch also added that Larson has been trying to rope him into sprint cars and winged cars for a while now. “Maybe I would at least like to give it a shot, at least go test it, go get some runs in, just kinda feel it out. Larson’s trying to get me to do it; he wants me to run, and I’m like, Hold on a second; I haven’t even sat in one,” said Busch with a chuckle.

Kyle Larson, like Busch, also had his son Owen Larson racing at Tulsa this time around. Owen Larson won the heat race and qualified for the final, but was eventually beaten by Brexton Busch, who secured the Golden Driller. While Larson might be racking up the wins in the cup series with 6 last season; young Busch got the better of young Larson at Tulsa.

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