There is something special going on in NASCAR and it may be coming at just the right time. Young Kyle Busch has been tearing up NASCAR in a manner not seen for many years if at all. Last night Busch once again came from a lap down to almost pull off another improbable victory. Fighting a car set-up that was termed tight on the straights and loose in the turns, Kyle took every opportunity to pit his ride as the number 32 crew kept making adjustments, trying to find the right combination. The eight yellow flags almost worked out for Kyle as he and teammate Denny Hamlin took the chance and pitted on the sixth yellow while both were in the middle of the top ten. Race leaders Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards and Mike Bliss (first through third, respectively) kept their cars on the track, risking the outcome on worn tires. Both Hamlin and Busch had good pit stops and were back on the track in good shape. The two Joe Gibbs Racing drivers were poised to press the issue as the green was once again unfurled. Hamlin and Busch immediately jumped to the high side and began to pass the cars right in front of them when the seventh yellow came up only mere seconds into green racing. The writing was on the wall though as I’m sure Harvick, along with Edwards and Bliss, had to be second guessing why they’d stayed out on the course. The new rubber was going to make all the difference…
But back to the original premise made here, why is Kyle Busch’s special run coming at the right time for NASCAR? Well, like it or not race fans, attendance at the tracks has been down this year. The initial reason for this is thought to be the current poor economy, but it appears to be deeper than this. The sport’s southern fan base may be reacting to the changes NASCAR has implemented over the last few years while the economy has brought it home to roost. The loss of racing at Rockingham, a long-time southern racing venue with a storied history along with Darlington’s loss of the Southern 500 has something to do with the problem. NASCAR’s expansion to western tracks in an effort to appeal to the country as a whole has taken a bite out of the southern exposure and left fans shaking their heads, The move away from manufacturer’s cars to a standardized racing frame and body has removed some of the sport’s luster, and finally the acceptance of a foreign automaker’s cars into the family has worked to also turn the original fan base further away from the sport. Out of the midst of all this doom and gloom there steps a new phenomenon the likes of which hasn’t been seen in years around NASCAR. He’s enjoyed more success before the age of 23 than such notables as Dale Earnhardt, Dale Jarrett, Darrell Waltrip, Cale Yarborough and Bobby Allison. Compared to Jeff Gordon, who has always been pointed to as the driver to put up any hot new driver’s numbers against, Kyle Busch is already ahead in terms of both wins and laps led. At the end of his season at the age of 23, Gordon had won two cup races and led 676 laps. Kyle Busch celebrated his 23rd birthday yesterday and has won 5 Cup races and led 1,969 laps, almost tripling Gordon on both counts. With this type of start to his career and if he can maintain his fearless driving style, Kyle Busch may re-invigorate fan interest in the sport at just the right time.
The scant Nationwide crowd on hand at Richmond last night was going to be in for a real treat as the race had boiled down to less than 20 laps to go with the Harvick Chevy, the Roush Fenway Ford (Edwards) and the number 1 Chevy driven by Mike Bliss in first, second and third, being pushed by the Gibbs number 20 Toyota in fourth and Joe’s number 32 Toyota a little further back, both on fresh rubber. Before the end of this race there would be two more yellow flags resulting in a green – white finish. Both Hamlin and Busch were right on it as the green came out after the seventh yellow and by the time the eighth yellow came out Hamlin was in first and Busch had closed to third. The final green flag racing saw Hamlin pull away from Harvick and before Busch could make another move he was bumped from behind by Steve Wallace on the back straightaway that almost caused Busch to lose control, but he recovered in time to swoop in and around Wallace to retake third. Kyle's mad dash from the back of the pack with a car that never was really set up right was almost ruined by young Wallace and there would be words between the two drivers after the race as Hamlin celebrated his home track win in victory lane.
Although it wasn’t the finish Kyle would have liked to help celebrate his 23rd birthday, this is the kind of stuff that NASCAR needs to refocus fan interest. Thanks for the great run guys!
The Spectacle…
Denny Hamlin has qualified first for tonight's Crown Royal Presents the Dan Lowry 400 back on the Richmond International Raceway with Kyle Busch sitting on the inside of the fourth row, qualifying seventh...
D-Man....Fantastic! I missed most of the race, and you just brought it to life for me. I was shocked that the crowd was so small. They still aren't sold out for tonight either. Thanks!
I saw where you were having to work so thought I'd put something together to give you a taste of the run... It got pretty interesting there at the end!
This Kyle Busch is kinda like Top Gun... He's dangerous but he can be my wing man anytime! I've got Edwards in the Trifecta tonight but it would be way cool if young Busch nosed everyone out of the lead and took this race!
There is something very special about this kid. I am just so glad that he has been giving the opportunity at Gibbs to show off his talent. Hendrick's was really smothering this kid's talents.
I just read your post on Jr. and Hendrick. Not a good scenario I guess to be in the same stable with Gordon who appears to blame everyone but himself for his victory drought. I think Gibbs has been VERY good for Kyle Busch. Busch seems to be learning on the fly and applying what he's learned on a week to week basis... Did you ever think you'd see him be patient? The last two races he has come from back in the pack late to challenge,,,
Maybe if Stewart leaves Gibbs we'll see Jr. drive with a winner and join JGR!
I think its a combo of being over at Gibbs and mentored by a driver who is more "like him" (in Stewart) and Kyle's maturity that seems to have sprung up overnight since being "traded" out for Jr. I think he took that personally and he is out to prove himself and doing a FINE job of it. BOth the Busch brothers are big talents indeed.
I've become fascinated with Kyle Busch... I don't pick him in William's Trifecta since I figure Hanahan has dibs... lol
It will be very interesting the rest of the year as the Hendrick drivers struggle to win against each other and Kyle seemingly has a free rein at JGR...
D-Man if I didnt know better i'd call you a bandwagon fan but I do know better good luck to your driver this weekend and hope he enjoys watching JR grab the checkerd flag...great scribble
JOKER, we're just under 250 laps right now and it's anyone's race... Heck call me a bandwagon fan... It's only the first season I've ever followed NASCAR... I like Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart too! Too bad Jr. is with the prima donna Gordon...
Kyle Busch is a joke, to say the least. He couldn't win a race unless he caused wrecks to other cars and he was the only one left on the track. He is a disgrace to Nascar !
It's too bad there had to be a wreck near the end of last night's race... It's called racing. Is Kyle and the other drivers supposed to just move aside and let Jr. win? Is that racing to you?
Sorry Jr. got himself in a position like that. Kyle had got inside him and Jr. would have been in the same position if the roles were reversed.
Sorry your favorite driver didn't win, but blaming someone else just doesn't get it...
KB is a hot head, and that rice grinder he drives is heavely finaced by Toyota. The Japanese figure that Pearl Harbor didn't work out, so they will get us with cheaply built cars. Why can't we keep a truely American sport American and keep the rice grinders in that "other" kind of racing.
I'm a sports fanatic living on the west coast of Florida. I'm a rare bird that moved here from the left coast a couple of years ago. I advocate an even playing field in all of life's endeavors.
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