Busch exudes talent, brings baggage
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – As they consider signing NASCAR driver Kyle Busch for the 2008 season, potential buyers know they might have to endure a few headaches if they do hire the 22-year-old.
But what’s a few aspirin when you can add one of the most talented young drivers in the Nextel Cup series?
Busch showed his immense driving skill as well as his penchant for creating controversy with his mouth at Saturday’s Pepsi 400.
Despite the fact he was driving a car that was slipping and sliding all over the track, Busch worked himself to the front of the field following the final restart with fewer than 10 laps remaining. He made a spectacular move, sliding to the inside line past two cars to get in position to challenge for the win with a few laps left.
Ultimately, Jamie McMurray edged Busch by less than six inches – five thousandths of a second – in the closest finish at Daytona since electronic timing began. But it was a dazzling display of driving by Busch, the kind that makes him an attractive buy for a Nextel Cup team next season.
For all his talents, Busch has a way of making news even after the race is over. Following Saturday’s finish, he questioned whether he remains a full-fledged member of the Hendrick Motorsports team. He said he felt teammates Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Casey Mears had let him down.
“I hadn’t been getting help from them all day,” said Busch, who got a push from brother Kurt, who drives for Penske Racing, on the final lap of the restrictor-plate race. “They went their way and I went my way.”
Busch will certainly go his way next season. Rick Hendrick announced last month he had signed Dale Earnhardt Jr. for 2008, jettisoning Busch to make room for Earnhardt. But Busch still drives for Hendrick Motorsports until the season ends, and that could create an awkward situation for the next few months.
Busch told the media Saturday that he tried to congratulate Gordon on a good finish and was “blown off.” Busch also wondered out loud if he might be kept out of team meetings now.
“I think the bliss at Hendrick Motorsports is over for Kyle Busch,” Busch said.
It remains to be seen whether Busch’s fears are warranted. But logic suggests that Hendrick would want what’s best for the No. 5 team and its sponsors. It benefits the entire organization to have Busch in the Chase for the Cup, so it’s doubtful the team would limit the amount of information they share with Busch.
A Chase showing would only add to Busch’s already impressive resume. He was the youngest race and pole winner in Nextel Cup history as a 20-year-old in 2005. That was a year after he was the runner-up in the Busch Series championship standings.
Busch made the Chase last season, with one win and 18 top-10s. A few tough-luck finishes early in the 10-race sprint to the championship ended his title hopes.
Busch has 10 top-10s this season, including a win in the first Car of Tomorrow race – he complained about how the new car handled while celebrating in Victory Lane – and is eighth in the point standings.
One part of his resume Busch would like to erase occurred at Texas Motor Speedway in April. His dedication to his team was questioned when he left the garage area thinking his car was beyond repair. His crew fixed the car, then asked Earnhardt to drive it when Busch couldn’t be found. Busch had committed a cardinal sin of racing by leaving his team stranded.
But that’s all part of the deal when it comes to Busch. Drivers of Busch’s acumen aren’t readily available. That’s why he has nearly every top team interested in his services for 2008. His new employer just needs to be prepared to run out for some Tylenol.