Kyle runs 1/2 season for wins?

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Team Penske

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A few years ago KB came back from injury, ran a 1/2 season and won the championship. He really hasn't been a threat any other year even though he makes the final 4. IMO he starts the season off and tries to win every race which usually nets him enough points to make it to the final four. However I noticed the last part of the season he SEEMS to be less aggressive, his cars don't seem to be what he wants and his finishes are not what I expect.
Could it be, Kyle is tired and loses focus after 60% of the races have been run?
Could it be the hot summer races take its tole on him?
Could it be his CC gets a little to ****y?
Are they trying to hard to beat the #19?
"Your reason is?"
 
First off, Kyle Busch has finished no lower than 4th in points ever since his championship. In what world is that ”not in contention”? It’s literally a few lucky breaks away from a few more championships.

To answer your question, I think the #18 team is proficient at coming out the gates with more speed than others and when everyone catches up it gets more difficult.
 
I think he needs a different crew chief tbh. They always seem to cool off towards the fall stretch of the year. Look at what a new crew chief did for Denny this year. In all honestly though it’s not happening because he’s made the round of 4 the last 5 years
 
Team Penske said:
A few years ago KB came back from injury, ran a 1/2 season and won the championship. He really hasn't been a threat any other year even though he makes the final 4. IMO he starts the season off and tries to win every race which usually nets him enough points to make it to the final four. However I noticed the last part of the season he SEEMS to be less aggressive, his cars don't seem to be what he wants and his finishes are not what I expect.
Could it be, Kyle is tired and loses focus after 60% of the races have been run?
Could it be the hot summer races take its tole on him?
Could it be his CC gets a little to ****y?
Are they trying to hard to beat the #19?
"Your reason is?"
Click to expand...


It's racing and the competitors never rest. They stay awake at night trying to figure out how to beat you.
A better word would be the freaks never rest. It can be the racers at the go cart track, the local late models, or the cup level. You just will not meet a group of people more insane about winning.

There are no casual racers are unfocused drivers. One of the reasons you see people quickly volenteering to help a struggling local racer load up and unload at the local track is because they respects the effort. Everybody knows your busted your butt and sacrified too much to be there. They know he is damn serious no matter the struggles. Just being called a racer among the group is a hell of an honour.

Kyle isnt bored or unfocused. Racing is tough and there are hot streaks and cold streaks no matter who you are, everybody else is on their A game too. Just winning once is a monumental thing, that requires more effort than most can comprehend.
 
I hope Kyle misses a race because his wife beat him with a 9-iron but somehow rallies to win The Cup.

No point in winning it if you cant' provide an asterisk.
 
This round is going to be "show me what ya got". I think there has been a bit of sandbagging, and some lets say staying comfortable in the points. I think Kyle has been one of those drivers, I'm not seeing aggressive restarts, or hanging on somebodies rear quarter or side drafting like he is known for. He hasn't needed to do those fairly aggressive moves so far. He raced Hamlin hard for awhile side by side, matched him in speed and then he backed off. I think he knew Elliott would have wrecked him trying to win in the last laps so he backed off. No use taking a chance at that point with your eye on the prize.
 
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He tries to win every race he shows up to.

He's a streaky driver always has been imo.

Last year, he won 3 races in a row early, and also won Richmond and Phoenix in the playoffs to bookend an 8 win total season. They just missed at Homestead. I think anytime you're in the final 4 you're considered a threat because anything can happen in just 1 race.

I don't think he's anymore worn than any other driver with similar obligations at this point of the year.
 
He's been an annual championship contender. Don't let the "Gerbils", as @StandOnIt calls them, get to your head. :p
 
I'd still go to Vegas and bet on the 18 to win the Championship. Every damn time. He's the best in the business, best talent in the sport right now on the best team. It's big league auto racing teams are going to catch up and it ebbs an flows. I would never question Kyle's effort at any particular time. However if rumors are true we might have a 2002 Jeff Gordon level distraction that he might be dealing with and that might be why he's not winning every week or up to some people's expectations. He's still in the Elite 8 with a pretty damn good shot at a Final Four in Miami. Not worried about KDB and the 18 bunch.
 
As someone who enjoys snarking Kyle I have to say this thread leads me to sympathize with Kyle a little.
He has had to control his passion for years, he is consumed with winning races.
Now against a lifetime of work that has demonstrated nothing but a most serious effort, someone wonders if Kyle is just too casual.

Life and racing are very similar and the damned if do, or damned if you don't reality couldn't be any more profound.
 
My opinion has always been that over the course of a full season Kyle's immaturity eventually does him in. There is no doubt he is a great driver, but it takes a bit more than that to win a championship. As stated he won the championship not driving the full year and IMO should never have been allowed to race for it.
 
DIDIT said:
My opinion has always been that over the course of a full season Kyle's immaturity eventually does him in. There is no doubt he is a great driver, but it takes a bit more than that to win a championship. As stated he won the championship not driving the full year and IMO should never have been allowed to race for it.
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funny I think the same thing except this year in this last stage I think he was playing the system and playing it safe. The next stage should be the tell tale if he has anything for them IMO.
 
kyle values the regular season championship
much more than the gimmicky chase crapshoot.
as do i.
 
StandOnIt said:
I think he knew Elliott would have wrecked him trying to win in the last laps so he backed off.
Click to expand...

There were at least five radio exchanges between Adam and Kyle about Chase's status. You are absolutely correct IMO.
 
Greg said:
As someone who enjoys snarking Kyle I have to say this thread leads me to sympathize with Kyle a little.
He has had to control his passion for years, he is consumed with winning races.
Now against a lifetime of work that has demonstrated nothing but a most serious effort, someone wonders if Kyle is just too casual.

Life and racing are very similar and the damned if do, or damned if you don't reality couldn't be any more profound.
Click to expand...

I respect Kyle's passion for winning quite a bit. If he was a bit more mature I'd probably like him.
 
AuzGrams said:
I respect Kyle's passion for winning quite a bit. If he was a bit more mature I'd probably like him.
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I get that, and I have criticized him for the same reasons. But in all fairness Kyle is more mature now than he has ever been and I respect that.
I like Harvick and I think they have similarities when it comes to temperment. None of us are perfect including drivers. We all have some personal flaws we have to overcome and there will probably be some relapses or whatever term applies. But the overall improvement can be seen with both of them. I have to stop before I start sounding like Dr Phil.
 
Thanks for your input. What I take away from it is:
most if not all think he is the best in the sport
everyone has their ups and downs
most think he is starting to Mature ( maybe he is watching Kurt)
some think he is racing smarter and being serious in his quest for another championship.

I think I fall into the last category and we may see a repeat champion.
 
Kyle Busch's problems seem to be connected to how serious he takes competing against others and in dealing with his frustrations. Sounds like a jockey.

R-F rumors aside, he's living a successful life in a mansion filled with nice stuff and a beautiful family. His Championship hopes are very much alive as he heads into Round 3 at the top. His fans are loyal and embrace him even in controversy.

Doubtful he will change much, or even wants to -- at least to the degree others would like.
 
He excels when he's racing as much as possible. Early in the season he can run Trucks and Xfinity which help him in Cup. Stupid limits is the problem.
 
He seems confident about the next 3 races
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Team Penske said:
A few years ago KB came back from injury, ran a 1/2 season and won the championship. He really hasn't been a threat any other year even though he makes the final 4. IMO he starts the season off and tries to win every race which usually nets him enough points to make it to the final four. However I noticed the last part of the season he SEEMS to be less aggressive, his cars don't seem to be what he wants and his finishes are not what I expect.
Could it be, Kyle is tired and loses focus after 60% of the races have been run?
Could it be the hot summer races take its tole on him?
Could it be his CC gets a little to ****y?
Are they trying to hard to beat the #19?
"Your reason is?"
Click to expand...
I actually have quite a bit say about this. I think what you are describing is the same old Kyle. Super talented and super young, and will probably go down as one of the best "race winners" ever. A long career with a win trajectory in the mid to upper 80s and probably another title or two will put him up there with DW and Cale.. probably above them imo due to today's competition. Kyle's the best there is today and his true legacy will be how LONG he was able to be a consistent race winner.

But here is where I am going to catch flack and be labelled a hater. This is Kyle. This is the same Kyle Busch from 2008, except now he's a dad, and he's maturing. He has ALWAYS been overrated as a championship calibur racecar driver in terms of HOW MUCH BETTER HE IS than his peers. VERY talented, but it takes more than just talent to execute a race, a pass, feedback, knowing your car. Kyle has been the best since 2015. And I think, thanks to the media push amongst others, people want him to be something he isn't.

Kyle's superiority over his contemporaries from 2015-now at the moment is more like Tony Stewart from 2000-2005, and much less like Gordon's prime, Dale's Prime, Johnson's prime. Kyle is a very good #2 who has his time currently because he's still peaking during the passing of a guard. Kyle has been out performed by teammates through out his career.

So in summary, as good as he is, I think he's being held to TOO high of a standard right now. He will be one of the greatest race winners ever, but in terms of being the whole package as a championship calibur driver, there's always been SOMETHING missing from him. This is nothing new, and no need for alarm. He'll win again this year. He'll win a lot more races.

But it seems like people are waiting for him to dominate like Gordon, Dale or Jimmie..and that was NEVER going to happen.

He strikes me as a Tony Stewart who is a bit better at winning races, but not as good at winning titles. That's cool. Respect that.

FWIW.. I think the OP's post is suggesting Kyle isn't going to win it this year, and he is surprised he hasn't won #2 yet.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
 
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jaqua19 said:
I actually have quite a bit say about this. I think what you are describing is the same old Kyle. Super talented and super young, and will probably go down as one of the best "race winners" ever. A long career with a win trajectory in the mid to upper 80s and probably another title or two will put him up there with DW and Cale.. probably above them imo due to today's competition. Kyle's the best there is today and his true legacy will be how LONG he was able to be a consistent race winner.

But here is where I am going to catch flack and be labelled a hater. This is Kyle. This is the same Kyle Busch from 2008, except now he's a dad, and he's maturing. He has ALWAYS been overrated as a championship calibur racecar driver in terms of HOW MUCH BETTER HE IS than his peers. VERY talented, but it takes more than just talent to execute a race, a pass, feedback, knowing your car. Kyle has been the best since 2015. And I think, thanks to the media push amongst others, people want him to be something he isn't.

Kyle's superiority over his contemporaries from 2015-now at the moment is more like Tony Stewart from 2000-2005, and much less like Gordon's prime, Dale's Prime, Johnson's prime. Kyle is a very good #2 who has his time currently because he's still peaking during the passing of a guard. Kyle has been out performed by teammates through out his career.

So in summary, as good as he is, I think he's being held to TOO high of a standard right now. He will be one of the greatest race winners ever, but in terms of being the whole package as a championship calibur driver, there's always been SOMETHING missing from him. This is nothing new, and no need for alarm. He'll win again this year. He'll win a lot more races.

But it seems like people are waiting for him to dominate like Gordon, Dale or Jimmie..and that was NEVER going to happen.

He strikes me as a Tony Stewart who is a bit better at winning races, but not as good at winning titles. That's cool. Respect that.

FWIW.. I think the OP's post is suggesting Kyle isn't going to win it this year, and he is surprised he hasn't won #2 yet.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
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I guess in summary, to keep it brief...

This thread doesn't need to exist, so to speak. The only reason it does is because Kyle isn't dominating like Jeff Gordon did, which seems to be what the media has tried to push for.

It's unfair to Kyle and it takes away from the admiration of HIS legacy.. in that he's going to have the longest prime of all time. There's nothing wrong. Just let him do his thing. He may win it all this year. He may not. But he's still going to have more 4+ win seasons and win another title.

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jaqua19 said:
I guess in summary, to keep it brief...

This thread doesn't need to exist, so to speak. The only reason it does is because Kyle isn't dominating like Jeff Gordon did, which seems to be what the media has tried to push for.

It's unfair to Kyle and it takes away from the admiration of HIS legacy.. in that he's going to have the longest prime of all time. There's nothing wrong. Just let him do his thing. He may win it all this year. He may not. But he's still going to have more 4+ win seasons and win another title.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I disagree with you on some things but you're spot on about KB.
 
jaqua19 said:
I guess in summary, to keep it brief...

This thread doesn't need to exist, so to speak. The only reason it does is because Kyle isn't dominating like Jeff Gordon did, which seems to be what the media has tried to push for.

It's unfair to Kyle and it takes away from the admiration of HIS legacy.. in that he's going to have the longest prime of all time. There's nothing wrong. Just let him do his thing. He may win it all this year. He may not. But he's still going to have more 4+ win seasons and win another title.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

That was my point, is he running for most wins or a championship.
My personal opinion is he races for the wins and could not have enough in the tank
to win the Chase Championship. The only one he did win was the one time he only raced for a 1/2 season and went all out for the races he did win.

PS. I am not putting him down by saying this. The horse leading the race at the 1/2 way point seldom wins and most teams leading at 1/2 way point seldom win the game.
 
jaqua19 said:
I actually have quite a bit say about this. I think what you are describing is the same old Kyle. Super talented and super young, and will probably go down as one of the best "race winners" ever. A long career with a win trajectory in the mid to upper 80s and probably another title or two will put him up there with DW and Cale.. probably above them imo due to today's competition. Kyle's the best there is today and his true legacy will be how LONG he was able to be a consistent race winner.

But here is where I am going to catch flack and be labelled a hater. This is Kyle. This is the same Kyle Busch from 2008, except now he's a dad, and he's maturing. He has ALWAYS been overrated as a championship calibur racecar driver in terms of HOW MUCH BETTER HE IS than his peers. VERY talented, but it takes more than just talent to execute a race, a pass, feedback, knowing your car. Kyle has been the best since 2015. And I think, thanks to the media push amongst others, people want him to be something he isn't.

Kyle's superiority over his contemporaries from 2015-now at the moment is more like Tony Stewart from 2000-2005, and much less like Gordon's prime, Dale's Prime, Johnson's prime. Kyle is a very good #2 who has his time currently because he's still peaking during the passing of a guard. Kyle has been out performed by teammates through out his career.

So in summary, as good as he is, I think he's being held to TOO high of a standard right now. He will be one of the greatest race winners ever, but in terms of being the whole package as a championship calibur driver, there's always been SOMETHING missing from him. This is nothing new, and no need for alarm. He'll win again this year. He'll win a lot more races.

But it seems like people are waiting for him to dominate like Gordon, Dale or Jimmie..and that was NEVER going to happen.

He strikes me as a Tony Stewart who is a bit better at winning races, but not as good at winning titles. That's cool. Respect that.

FWIW.. I think the OP's post is suggesting Kyle isn't going to win it this year, and he is surprised he hasn't won #2 yet.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
I can get behind this.
 
What was that Kenny Rogers song, know when to holdem, know when to playem

Kyle’s been holding
Now it’s time to playem
 
Team Penske said:
That was my point, is he running for most wins or a championship.
My personal opinion is he races for the wins and could not have enough in the tank
to win the Chase Championship. The only one he did win was the one time he only raced for a 1/2 season and went all out for the races he did win.

PS. I am not putting him down by saying this. The horse leading the race at the 1/2 way point seldom wins and most teams leading at 1/2 way point seldom win the game.
Click to expand...

You may have a point about him being his best at his freshest, and his stamina to drive his A+ game for the entire season.

DW used to talk about this a lot in broadcast, him doing double triple duty taking too much out of him for Cup to be a serious championship contender, I subscribed to it. And then as the years went on, KB was forced to reduce his lower series efforts with the rules and last year all of a sudden, I thought was his most complete year. Matured settled down KB.

To tag onto what you were saying, I think he races for both win totals and championships, while giving slightly more weight to Cup wins since he's aware of the system he's in. He wants it all, especially 2nd championship to validate the shortened 2015. He's greedy for accomplishments.

Energy wise, I have to imagine he's used to his schedule demands after over a decade, and now that they're reduced compared to what they used to be. I mean... if these last 4 races don't get you amped up as a playoff driver in this series, then you might as well hang it up. Get some good sleep, nutrition, somethin!
 
jaqua19 said:
I actually have quite a bit say about this. I think what you are describing is the same old Kyle. Super talented and super young, and will probably go down as one of the best "race winners" ever. A long career with a win trajectory in the mid to upper 80s and probably another title or two will put him up there with DW and Cale.. probably above them imo due to today's competition. Kyle's the best there is today and his true legacy will be how LONG he was able to be a consistent race winner.

But here is where I am going to catch flack and be labelled a hater. This is Kyle. This is the same Kyle Busch from 2008, except now he's a dad, and he's maturing. He has ALWAYS been overrated as a championship calibur racecar driver in terms of HOW MUCH BETTER HE IS than his peers. VERY talented, but it takes more than just talent to execute a race, a pass, feedback, knowing your car. Kyle has been the best since 2015. And I think, thanks to the media push amongst others, people want him to be something he isn't.

Kyle's superiority over his contemporaries from 2015-now at the moment is more like Tony Stewart from 2000-2005, and much less like Gordon's prime, Dale's Prime, Johnson's prime. Kyle is a very good #2 who has his time currently because he's still peaking during the passing of a guard. Kyle has been out performed by teammates through out his career.

So in summary, as good as he is, I think he's being held to TOO high of a standard right now. He will be one of the greatest race winners ever, but in terms of being the whole package as a championship calibur driver, there's always been SOMETHING missing from him. This is nothing new, and no need for alarm. He'll win again this year. He'll win a lot more races.

But it seems like people are waiting for him to dominate like Gordon, Dale or Jimmie..and that was NEVER going to happen.

He strikes me as a Tony Stewart who is a bit better at winning races, but not as good at winning titles. That's cool. Respect that.

FWIW.. I think the OP's post is suggesting Kyle isn't going to win it this year, and he is surprised he hasn't won #2 yet.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I do not think he is the best over the last 5 years.
Truax is better and he makes less mistakes.
 
It's really close, but I can get on board with Truex being better over the last 3 years. Where it's 18 to 17 wins in Truex's favor, his 2017 is the most dominating season in the last 5 years imo.

Extending out to 5 years though, KB has been a model of consistency advancing to Homestead the last 4 years in a row going on 5 while never dropping below 4 wins per year, 8.3 avg finish last year with 8 wins I'd give him the edge over that time period.
 
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