Carl Edwards takes the flag; post-race panel bashing with Kyle Busch not shown. Photograph: Getty Images for Nascar.

Carl Edwards secured his place in the Chase for the Nascar Sprint Cup by winning the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday evening – but he had to bump Kyle Busch out of the way to do it.

The pair continued their argument after the flag, with Busch hitting Edwards on the warm-down lap and the winner repaying the favour by spinning Busch around. Edwards, who claimed his fourth win for Rousch Fenway in the past three races, was unrepentant about his method for getting past his rival in the race.

“Earlier in the year we had a Nationwide race and Kyle was a lot faster than me,” he said. “He got to my back bumper and just smoked the back bumper of my car and sent me up the racetrack. After that he said ‘Sorry, man, my car was just faster.’ So in my mind I had to ask myself when I went down there in the corner, should I lift and brake early and do the best I can? Or should I just give him a little tap and see what happens? So that’s the way it went, and that’s the decision I made. And, you know, I’d do it again.”

Busch, who races for the Joe Gibbs team, said he had pushed Edwards after the flag to show that he didn’t appreciate his tactics. However, he added that Edwards’ bumping move in the race had been expected. “He’ll always come back and say he’s sorry,” said Busch. “He did it at Milwaukee and he’s done it a few other times. It’s just his normal fashion. That’s fine. I’ve grown to know that now.”

As the pair will be locked together in the Chase for the Cup, both tried to play down talk of a major feud developing. “Kyle is not a poor loser,” said Edwards. “He’s mad, and I can completely empathise with his anger. I probably would have done the exact same thing.”

Busch crossed the line in second place, with Denny Hamlin in third.

About this articleCloseNascar: Edwards wins again as he battles Busch at Bristol This article was first published on guardian.co.uk on Monday August 25 2008. It was last updated at 12:44 on August 25 2008.

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