Last year when the report came through that Kyle Busch had been fired from Hendrick, the rumors started flying that J.J. Yeley would be replaced in the #18 car with Kyle.
I thought, no way, would Joe Gibbs replace J.J. with Kyle. But I was wrong.
Kyle was hired and when he went for his first test with the #18 team in Atlanta, he and crew chief Steve Addington clicked. Okay, I thought, this might not be so bad after all.
Maybe finally the #18 team can get back to their winning ways. Okay, I was right on that one.
Then the switch to Toyota. I thought no problem for JGR. Just change a few noses and some stickers. And the cars would be competitive. Got that one right.
Chevrolet made no bones about it. They wanted Stewart back in their stable of drivers. But I still thought nope. Stewart would stay loyal to Gibbs. Got that one wrong too.
Then this year another bombshell dropped. Stewart was looking to possibly leave Gibbs for Haas CNC. I thought nope, not going to happen. Stewart had always said that he did not want to be an owner in NASCAR. Too political for his taste.
That he wanted to retire with Greg Zipadelli as his crew chief. And he wanted to finish out his career with Gibbs.
So I thought Stewart would not be going anywhere. Gibbs was performing at their best this year. And they were the number one team in NASCAR. Stewart wants to win championships and races. So he was going to stay.
Well I got that one WRONG too.
So the thought came to me. I am not doing so good with this thinking bit. (a hearty chuckle)
But I also got to thinking, what or who can stop the winning ways of Kyle Busch and the #18 team?
This kid is winning or in contention every week he gets behind the wheel of a race car or truck. No matter if it is in the Truck Series, the Nationwide Series, or the Cup Series.
This kid is having an amazing year for a driver.
The kid has won what 2 Truck races. Won 5 times in the Nationwide series. And 7 times in the Cup Series. That is 14 wins in a season, in three different series.
I must say I never thought this kid would take the world of racing by storm with Gibbs Racing. I figured he would win a few races. Maybe contend for the championship.
But I am beginning to wonder if anyone else can even challenge him for the championship. At the rate this kid is winning races, he could easily have a 120 pt lead going into the chase. He currently has 70 pts for the chase. And if anyone doubts this kid will not add to this amount, you have your head in the sand.
Whatever is driving this kid, it is certainly a winning combination. Whether it is to show former boss Rick Hendrick, "see if you would have let me be me, I could have done this at your organization". Or just Kyle wanting to do good for his new boss and team. Or just Kyle being Kyle. Or a combination of all three.
Whatever the reason, it is working. And as long as this kid is thriving at JGR. Like he has never before. Gibbs racing certainly does not need Tony Stewart.
Stewart is leaving Gibbs is excellent hands. Kyle Busch has become the new "King of Gibbs".
Photos Of Kyle Busch and Joe Gibbs and J.D. Gibbs; The 18 M&M's team by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR
tsfan- Gotta agree Gibbs is going to be the new super team with Kyle and Logano on the same team. I hope Tony knows what he is doing...I fear its going to be a long season next year for Smoke fans.
10 wins last year, including 6 out of 11, 4 in a row en route to back2back championships. Yeah and Jimmie doesnt even compare to Gordon.
cmon kyle do something to impress us, dont blow it.
hrtywe, thats a good point lol. Why cant somebody give JGR and toyota just a little credit, just a little?
How do you go from being fired last year to being Dale Sr. Jr. in just a few months?
The only thing that hasnt changed from last year is kyle himself, so what is making the difference now? hmmm...
Well the point lead he will have come chase time it will be his championship to lose. Then some will say it was all for nothing if he did lose it and what a shame. Then again I hate the chase and would say he got robbed a championship just like Jeff Gordon has lost out on 2 to his name.
Cheers
Tsfanpc
With Kyle winning with an ever increasing regularity . Ought we to be really worried ? I seem to remember a few years back when Jeff Gordon ran off double digit wins and then went on to win the championship.
If Kyle's unable to do that then his season may well be deemed something of a failure.
So for the moment I feel that we just ought to commend him on the success and judge his overall success at the end of the year.
See my most recent post and let me know what you think as to its merits ? I'll provide a link to the piece in question. Just click on the link(site) to view the piece in its entirety.
Bloggers Beware Things You Don't Do You If You're Involved In A Long Term Relationship Or Married rel="BloggersBeware">site.
Klvalus, I agree Gibbs is going to be fine with the duo of Busch and Logano. And if Denny ever finds his stride again, he will be another force for Gibbs
I am dreading next season, because, I am afraid that it is going to long and boring. Kind of like this year for me as a Stewart fan.
hyrtwe Gibbs has done their homework. And thanks to all the years that Dale Jarrett, Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart have spent with them. Giving them feedback. Gibbs is the strongest organization today. And with the likes of Busch, Logano and Hamlin on their roster next year. Gibbs is going to be an even stronger organization for years to come.
HMS I thought I was tough to sell on Kyle, you are harder than I was. Give the kid a break. He is having the year of his life.
Why is he performing now at Gibbs and he didn't at Hendrick, simple Joe Gibbs. Joe Gibbs has away of getting people to go beyond their own expectations. People want to do their best for the Coach. And in turn gives them the stuff that they need to be at their best.
I am not saying anything bad about Rick Hendrick. But sometimes you have to take the corporate strings off and let a guy just be himself. And that is what Gibbs does for his drivers.
Forensic it would be ashame if this kid has a career making season and then he doesn't win the championship. This kid is having a fantastic year. A year like no other Gibbs has ever had. He has the most wins of driver for Gibbs in a single season.
Justanotherfan, I agree it is best to wait and see how this kid does at the end of the season. But it is hard not to look at what he is doing and wonder.
Tsfanpc
It's true that Kyle is having an amazing season and he ought to be commended on it. But if it should all be for nought with him not winning the Sprint Cup championship. Then a lot of questions'll be raised as to why he didn't win the championship.
See the following piece and let me know what you think as to its merits ? I'll provide a direct link to the piece in question. Just click on the link(site) to view.
Tsfanpc
They may well settle down as billionaire oiman T Boone Pickens it has been said is prepared to pay any NASCAR teamm willing to convert their vehicles to wind power $25m. So far the only taker has been Michael Waltrip .....LOL, LOL, LOL !!!!
I'm a Texas oilman but now I believe in wind power. Won't you come and join me in my assault on this country's thirst for foreign oil ?
Echoes of my mind .......windmills
At this juncture anything that'd give Mikey some semblance of publicity is certainly better than no publicity at all.
He'll forever live in the shadow of his brother Darrell.
Tsfanpc
He's at a crossroads in his careeer. He wants to be an owner but hasn't the experience to do what's right to make the team a success. At the same his overall business acumen isn't that great.
It'll be wise to just watch his progress over the next few months and this season in particular. A less than successful season and one might think that Toyota'll have to rethink their strategy altogether.
Tsfanpc
One of two things'll end up happening with regard to Michael Waltrip Racing. Either an outside party will take an equity interest in the team or he'll sell the whole operation to another party altogether. He's just not competitive or talented enough.
And when it comes to the business acumen of running a multi million dollar operation.He's just way out of his depth altogether. There are few owner drivers who possess the business acumen . Let alone who are able to do both successively.
justan' aka tophatal ........
Last edited by justanotherfan on August 7th at 8:57 AM.
I thought, no way, would Joe Gibbs replace J.J. with Kyle. But I was wrong.
Haas CNC. I thought nope, not going to happen. Stewart had always said that he did not want to be an owner in NASCAR. Too political for his taste. 
