DARLINGTON, S.C.—Normally, driver introductions are simply a waste of time.  But today was different at Darlington Raceway.

As expected, Kyle Busch received a villain’s welcome from a crowd that unmercifully booed him during his entire ride around this 1.366-mile racetrack prior to the start of the Dodge Challenger 500. In contrast, Dale Earnhardt Jr. received another hero’s welcome after his late-race encounter with Busch at Richmond International Raceway last Saturday night.

Busch ignited this flame of disdain when he got into it with Steve Wallace at the end of the Nationwide race at RIRaceway. Then, he sprinkled fuel on the dying embers when he clipped Earnhardt near the end of the last Saturday night’s Dan Lowry 400, which denied Earnhardt his best shot at ending a 72-race winless streak.

Busch, who was jeered by the crowd after getting knocked out of the Nationwide race on Friday, responded with a Hulk Hogan-like gesture. He wanted to hear more from crowd, putting his hand to his ear and pumping his fist to incite more venomous attacks from the crowd.

Maybe Tony Stewart is right. NASCAR— at least Busch—is starting to look and sound a lot like pro wrestling. At some point, said a rival crew member, someone is going to “body slam the trash-talking Busch.”