There’s something about being the first to do something in NASCAR that makes someone stand out. Honestly, driver Kyle Busch has done many of those in his career.
He became the first driver to win with Toyota, and also became the youngest driver to win a NASCAR race when he got his first win back in 2005. He also became the first driver to win all three races at one track in one weekend.
Saturday night, he added yet another first to his resume.
A victory at the Kentucky Speedway meant that he, and only he, can lay claim to the fact that he won the inaugural Cup race at Kentucky. In fact, he had the opportunity to complete a clean sweep yet again as he was in the Truck and Nationwide race as well. He won the Truck event, but didn’t get the sweep as Brad Keselowski won the Nationwide race.
As much as I hate to admit it, this guy has some mad skills at the wheel of a race car. His attitude at times can be rather ugly, like leaving the track after a bad run, or barging out of the media center, or even giving a NASCAR official a “two-gun salute” on pit road.
This year that kind of attitude has been seen on the track on occasion, but at the same time it mostly ends when the checkered flag waves. I’m not including the incident between he and Kevin Harvick at Darlington because that was definitely outside the lines of what was appropriate actions to take.
But, it’s like his maturity level has increased immensely this year, and it’s made him a better driver at the same time.
It seems to be working well since he is leading the points now, and the Chase is coming ever so close. Two months from today, the Chase field will be set, and right now he would enter as the leader. That means he would have momentum, and would be the one every driver is going after.
Sure, he may have a target on his back when that time comes, but it’s not like he’s not used to it. He’s ruffled enough feathers over his young career, and will probably continue to do so as the season continues, and his career evolves.
His two nicknames are “Rowdy” and “Wild Thing.” Kind of appropriate when you think about it.
RESULTS: 1-Kyle Busch 2-Reutimann 3-Johnson 4-Newman 5-Edwards 6-Kenseth 7-Keselowski 8-Ragan 9-Kurt Busch 10-Gordon
NOTABLE FINISHES: 11-Hamlin 12-Stewart 16-Harvick 30-Earnhardt Jr. 35-Bowyer
CAUTIONS: 6 for 32 laps. Lap 32-35 (Competition), 141-146 (Debris-BS), 153-157 (Oil on track), 201-209 (#1 Stopped on track), 255-259 (Debris-BS), 263-265 (#33 Accident-T2).
LEAD CHANGES: 20 among 12 drivers. Kyle Busch POLE, Kurt Busch 1-31, Kyle Busch 32, Kvapil 33, Kahne 35, Kyle Busch 36-81, Cassill 82-83, Kyle Busch 84-141, Keselowski 142-157, Kyle Busch 158, Stewart 159, Keselowski 160-185, Kyle Busch 186-193, Hamlin 194-198, Ragan 199-201, Truex Jr. 202, Keselowski 203-239, Kurt Busch 240-249, Reutimann 250-256, Kyle Busch 257-267.
TIME OF RACE: 2 Hrs, 55 Mins.
AVERAGE SPEED: 137.314 MPH
MARGIN OF VICTORY: 0.179 Seconds
POINT STANDINGS (Top-10, Wild Cards): 1. Kyle Busch, 624 points; 2. Edwards, -4; 3. Harvick, -10; 4. Kurt Busch, -18; 5. Johnson, -19; 6. Kenseth, -22; 7. Gordon, -71; 8. Earnhardt Jr, -76; 9. Newman, -86; 10. Hamlin, -95. CURRENT WILD CARDS: Stewart (11th, No Wins), (Ragan (15th, 1 win)