Welcome to FTW’s NASCAR Feud of the Week, where we provide a detailed breakdown of the latest absurd, funny and sometimes legitimate controversies and issues within the racing world.
Our latest NASCAR Feud of the Week is actually a throwback to an 11-year-old incident that came full circle this week, ending with a fabulous joke.
Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch will have a new team and new ride beginning in the 2023 season, and, of course, that also means he’ll have a new boss. Busch announced Tuesday that he’s leaving Joe Gibbs Racing after 15 seasons with the powerhouse team to join Richard Childress Racing.
“I’m excited to announce that I’ll be taking my talents to Welcome, North Carolina to drive the No. 8 car for Richard Childress Racing starting in 2023,” 37-year-old Busch said in a statement reminiscent of LeBron James in 2010.
So instead of Joe Gibbs, he’ll be reporting to Richard Childress — an interesting pair if you know you’re NASCAR history.
Basically, in what’s now known as the “hold my watch” incident, then-65-year-old Childress and then-26-year-old Busch tangled after a Truck Series race at Kansas Speedway in 2011. Now, Busch is no stranger to (sometimes physical) altercations in NASCAR, but in this instance, he wasn’t really the instigator.
A refresher on what happened, via The Athletic:
After a 2011 NASCAR Truck Series race at Kansas Speedway, team owner Richard Childress was livid over how Kyle Busch had made contact with Joey Coulter — who was then driving a Richard Childress Racing entry.
Childress infamously told grandson Austin Dillon to “Hold my watch,” because you wouldn’t want to mess up a nice timepiece in a fight. Then, according to witnesses, the much older man proceeded to place Busch into a headlock and punch him in the head several times before Busch fell to the ground. Childress was later fined $150,000 by NASCAR.
"He got him in the headlock and just went to beatin' on his head." – @MartySmithESPN
For those who didn't get the "Hold my watch" reference between Richard Childress and Kyle Busch, here ya go.
Childress was fined $150,000 & placed on probation for the 2011 season. pic.twitter.com/7rZARMc7Aw
— Cory Smith (@RCorySmith) September 13, 2022
Fast forward 11 years later, and Busch and Childress are now on the same team and will be indefinitely, as the current No. 18 Toyota driver said it’s a multiyear deal.
During Busch’s announcement Tuesday at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, Childress even had a little fun over their shared history. After Busch shared his plans for next season and beyond, Childress joined him on stage and with a gift for his new driver.
“Well, you know, Kyle, the other week when we signed our contract, there was something I forgot to give you,” Childress said. “It was your signing bonus, so I’ve gotta give you your signing bonus.
“Will you hold my watch?” he asked, handing Busch a Rolex box.
“Absolutely,” Busch responded.
“That’s all we’re gonna talk about that,” Childress added. “That’s history.”
Clearly, Busch and Childress have moved far beyond the “hold my watch” incident more than a decade ago, and they made that clear recently, as uncertainty and speculation about Busch’s future was really heating up.
Saturday at Kansas, Busch also made a joke about their history. He said, via FOX Sports:
“Who is to say he hasn’t punched me again in any of these conversations?” he said. “Whenever you go into negotiations, it’s never fun, so you’re duking the whole time.
“You grow up, and you work through things. It was fine the first time I sat down with him.”
That’s a nice-looking signing bonus…
"Hold my watch…." #IYKYK NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Childress officially welcomed @KyleBusch to @RCRracing with a @ROLEX. Gotta love these #NASCARHALL moments. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/InnKiHesES
— NASCAR Hall of Fame (@NASCARHall) September 13, 2022
Obviously, NASCAR Twitter loved Childress' joke with his new driver
Richard said “hold my watch” 🤣 https://t.co/aagdt8HNPY
— TooMuchCamber (@Too_MuchCamber) September 13, 2022
It went from "hold my watch" to "here, have a watch."
Crazy.
— THE Orange Cone (@TheOrangeCone) September 13, 2022
SMOOTH. #HoldMyWatch#NASCAR pic.twitter.com/CKbBZmltEd
— nascarcasm (@nascarcasm) September 13, 2022
A hold my watch joke! It had to happen. Just had to.
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) September 13, 2022
The "hold my watch" comment by Childress was hilarious.
— Michael Moats (@MichaelRMoats) September 13, 2022
kyle busch’s gift of a watch from richard childress 11 years after causing him to do a punch just proves that it always pays to make as many enemys as possible
— NASFACTS (@NASFACTS) September 14, 2022
Lmao “hold my watch”
— 🏁 Will 🏁 (@Will_JGR_18) September 13, 2022
I hope everyone caught that “hold my watch reference” 😂 😂😂😂😂 Richard with the trolling 👀
— Vern 🏁2️⃣3️⃣〰4️⃣5️⃣🏁 (@Nightfire215) September 13, 2022
"I gotta give you my signing bonus, can you hold my watch?" Richard Childress to Kyle Busch on stage. LOL.
— Davey Segal (@DaveyCenter) September 13, 2022
The fact everyone thought RCR was making a bad decision not keeping Reddick.
Hold my watch⌚️ pop pop says 🤣
— Mitch (@Mitchell_Mumma) September 13, 2022
#Holdmywatch #RowdyNation #KFB Let’s Go
My wallet is ready!!😃💯💯🤣 @KyleBusch 💵 💰 pic.twitter.com/pjWcyE9HaT— victor reyes (@victor18reyes) September 13, 2022
CHILDRESS HIT KYLE BUSCH WITH A “HOLD MY WATCH” REFERENCE.
YOU ABSOLUTE MAD LAD 😂
— Zack Webster (@ZackWeb95) September 13, 2022
