Keselowski rips Busch behavior

DOVER, Del. — Brad Keselowski is sick of the way Kyle Busch’s churlish behavior is often linked as an excuse for his desire to win.

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Keselowski criticized on Twitter this week those who applauded Busch’s curt sixword answer to a post-race question and mic drop and chalked up the response to Busch’s hate of losing.

“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, it makes me want to throw up,” Keselowski said yesterday. “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 of your desire to win.”

Busch, crushed after a runner-up finish in the marquee Coca-Cola 600, conceded Friday that while everyone handles defeat in different ways, “mine has never been very gracious.” Keselowski wrote on Twitter, “I was taught to hate losing by working harder next time, not by being disrespectful to others.”

Keselowski, who has two wins headed into today’s Drive for Autism 400 at Dover International Speedway, wants to send a positive message to his family and fans with gracious conduct in defeat.

“When I look at teams and people in this sport they all want to be associated with those who have the strongest hunger and desires and passions to be successful. That’s natural. That includes myself,” he said. “That message to convey, whether it’s through the media or through different mouthpieces is a terrible message that has serious effects, not only on our sport but on our society and I don’t think that’s acceptable. Your desire to win can be expressed in a lot of other ways that are productive.”

Keselowski got into a brief Twitter spat with a Toyota executive (Busch’s car manufacturer) over the incident that seemed to steal the spotlight in a sport in need of headlines.

Keselowski, the 2012 Cup champion, said Busch’s behavior can’t be excused away because his outbursts are almost as routine as his drives to the checkered flag.

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