Elliott accepts Kyle Busch apology

Chase Elliott gives Kyle Busch the middle finger salute

Chase Elliott said Kyle Busch was “deserving" of the middle finger Elliott gave him after being wrecked, but also stated that he didn’t think Busch crashed him on purpose Wednesday at Darlington Raceway.

Elliott said he was upset with Busch’s move that led to the contact and cost Elliott a chance to win the most recent Cup race. Elliott finished 38th. Busch, who finished second, said he made a mistake after the race and later apologized to Elliott.

“I think that (Busch) was trying to make a spot that wasn’t there," Elliott said in a Zoom call with media Friday. “Much like I told him, I get that mistakes happen and that’s part of life. I get it, but he’s just not a guy that makes many mistakes. For me to be on the poor end of a rare mistake on his end, at the end of the day, is unfortunate for me and my team."

Elliott said he has no regrets about the gesture he gave Busch after the incident when Busch drove by the accident scene.

“I thought it was warranted, and he was deserving," Elliott said.

He also said: “I don’t think (Busch) did it on purpose. I hate that I was on the rare end of a rare mistake on his end. For a guy who doesn’t make many, hated that it was me that took the blow." Dustin Long/NBC Sports