NASCAR needs Kyle Busch to be himself

dpkimmel2001

dpkimmel2001

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Good article on KB.

Kyle Busch seems awfully unhappy these days.

That's unfortunate for Busch, and it's bad for NASCAR.

It's been a stressful summer for Busch, who finds himself clinging to one of the wild card spots for the 12-driver Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. Not qualifying for NASCAR's title-deciding series isn't the end of the world — Busch missed the cut in 2009 and lived to tell about it — but it's a colossal failure for a driver of his caliber.

So, yeah, his fun meter was flat over the weekend at Bristol. He disliked changes to the track, didn't want to discuss an incident at Watkins Glen with Brad Keselowski he has yet to address and wasn't willing to go in depth about his shaky Chase chances.

"We've got three weeks. Chill out," he said when asked about the importance of getting a win at Bristol.

Busch didn't win, though, and now he's down to two weeks to claim a victory that would dramatically boost his shot at making the Chase. First up is Sunday night's race at Atlanta, where he has one win in 14 career starts, but a more telling average finish of 18th.

But, all this Chase pressure may not be the only issue that's left Busch in a seemingly sour mood. His demeanor is a far cry from his "Rowdy" heyday, when Busch was racking up wins in every series and was a threat to win every time he entered a race.

Why? Because he's hardly running anything anymore.
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Rest of the story here.
 
His wanker side was fun for a few years, but it started becoming sad to watch all that talent melt down week after week. He should stay the course until he grows up a little, then get back to racing with attitude. If he doesn't, he could end up like his brother in 5 or 6 years.
 
It sure seems as though Busch runs much better in Cup when he's running more NNW and CWTS races.
 
#17D500winner said:
It sure seems as though Busch runs much better in Cup when he's running more NNW and CWTS races.
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He and Carl may be the 2 drivers who actually benifit from running the other series. Kyles problems seemed to come in the chase. What would have happened if he actually had a shot at the championship last year when he drove Hornaday into the wall and got suspended for the last weekend of racing?
 
FenderBumper said:
He and Carl may be the 2 drivers who actually benifit from running the other series. Kyles problems seemed to come in the chase. What would have happened if he actually had a shot at the championship last year when he drove Hornaday into the wall and got suspended for the last weekend of racing?
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I suspect he may have quickly reconsidered that decision.
 
#17D500winner said:
I suspect he may have quickly reconsidered that decision.
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Problem is, it wasn't the only time his temper impacted his chase. Deciding to 'get him later' and knocking Reuttiman into the wall because he failed to pull over was another. I also feel his comments toward his team affects his chase performance. I forget the year, but an improperly tightened Heim joint and paper left on his air filter tell me there are people on his team that care just enough to collect a paycheck. Team leadership is important, and Kyle hasn't had any.

Year after year, Kyle seems to be stressed and pressing during the chase, then seems relieved after something happens and he's out of it. He's so quick to give up (check his radio after Reuttiman walled him) that I feel he's afraid to believe he can beat JJ, so he prepares himself for failure. On the other end of the spectrum is Keselowski, a guy who constantly sets goals that set himself up for failure, but he doesn't bat an eye when it doesn't work out. Brad may have the talent to one day sweep Bristol, but not when he's driving that BKR truck the way the team is now, and not on a new surface. He also isn't afraid to tell JJ he's going to keep him honest in the chase. Whatever you say about Kez, he sure has a set.
 
FenderBumper said:
Problem is, it wasn't the only time his temper impacted his chase. Deciding to 'get him later' and knocking Reuttiman into the wall because he failed to pull over was another. I also feel his comments toward his team affects his chase performance. I forget the year, but an improperly tightened Heim joint and paper left on his air filter tell me there are people on his team that care just enough to collect a paycheck. Team leadership is important, and Kyle hasn't had any.

Year after year, Kyle seems to be stressed and pressing during the chase, then seems relieved after something happens and he's out of it. He's so quick to give up (check his radio after Reuttiman walled him) that I feel he's afraid to believe he can beat JJ, so he prepares himself for failure. On the other end of the spectrum is Keselowski, a guy who constantly sets goals that set himself up for failure, but he doesn't bat an eye when it doesn't work out. Brad may have the talent to one day sweep Bristol, but not when he's driving that BKR truck the way the team is now, and not on a new surface. He also isn't afraid to tell JJ he's going to keep him honest in the chase. Whatever you say about Kez, he sure has a set.
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You just absolutely have to make every thread about Bad Brad, Doncha Huh Doncha. :D
 
Two thoughts:

1) NASCAR is run by Corporate America now. Personalities are not allowed unless they meet the corporate image.
2) Kyle has has some bad luck this year. That's how racing goes sometimes. I've no doubt he will bounce back.
3) I think he's got the same attitude. He's just learned to not give the media anything to work with.
 
sloggie said:
Two thoughts:

1) NASCAR is run by Corporate America now. Personalities are not allowed unless they meet the corporate image.
2) Kyle has has some bad luck this year. That's how racing goes sometimes. I've no doubt he will bounce back.
3) I think he's got the same attitude. He's just learned to not give the media anything to work with.
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And it's killing them, so they make a big deal about that fist pump. Wankers.
 
Good article thanks Dp. Drivers are a funny thing they get to dwelling on whats gone wrong or what could go wrong and there just not the same as before, there's one cure... Wining even if it's in a lower series or at a local short track.
Not a Rowdy fan but I'll admit I enjoyed watching him race the last few years, I hope he gets the fire back amd grows a thicker skin.
 
Kyle needs to go back to running more races, and forget about being a team owner.
No need to answer questions about Watkins Glenn, those questions are rhetorical, everyone saw what happened. There just traps waiting for a bad answer that gives them something to write about, there is no upside in it for him.

JGR needs to get more reliable engines too, Kyle is not having a year up to his standards, but JGRs isn't quite as good either.

Kyle is viewed as hot or cold, on or off, people are looking for two things from him without much room for anything else. Very simply there looking for Kyle the idiot that sulks like a kid when it doesn't work out, or Kyle the wheel man, the driving animal that's fast and winning. To be fair he has built those parameters himself.

Still the same you don't see folks saying Jeff Gordon needs to go back to being Jeff in spite of netting about the same results this year. Instead the Narrative is about Jeffs rotten luck, and that is truly the case, he has had bad luck this year. But Kyle was in top 10 this year prior to some mechanical issues.
The oil that got Gordon at the Glenn and dropped him about 20 spots is just commented to be Gordons bad luck. In contrast the same oil probably cost Kyle a win and much more better position for making the chase, but that Narrative is the Kyle won't talk. Some folks might just differ and see that demand to be as petty as Kyle's fist bump.

Last of all and most importantly Kyle needs to have Samantha on the pit box, wearing those exquisitely beautiful jeans she wore during the Pocono pre race show. She is a highly accomplished intelligent woman that we need to see. School girl outfits would nice too.
 
Well said Greg. I think Kyle has run better than Jeff while having even more bad luck. I hope both make the chase.
 
FenderBumper said:
Problem is, it wasn't the only time his temper impacted his chase. Deciding to 'get him later' and knocking Reuttiman into the wall because he failed to pull over was another. I also feel his comments toward his team affects his chase performance. I forget the year, but an improperly tightened Heim joint and paper left on his air filter tell me there are people on his team that care just enough to collect a paycheck. Team leadership is important, and Kyle hasn't had any.

Year after year, Kyle seems to be stressed and pressing during the chase, then seems relieved after something happens and he's out of it. He's so quick to give up (check his radio after Reuttiman walled him) that I feel he's afraid to believe he can beat JJ, so he prepares himself for failure. On the other end of the spectrum is Keselowski, a guy who constantly sets goals that set himself up for failure, but he doesn't bat an eye when it doesn't work out. Brad may have the talent to one day sweep Bristol, but not when he's driving that BKR truck the way the team is now, and not on a new surface. He also isn't afraid to tell JJ he's going to keep him honest in the chase. Whatever you say about Kez, he sure has a set.
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Let's not forget Chicago 2009 when he intentionally wrecked his car with like 15 to go because he wasn't running in the top-ten.
 
What Jenna Fryer misses is that he's burned all his bridges in NASCAR. If he were to have another meltdown that got him parked again, there's a good chance he'd lose his ride with Gibbs. And Hendrick, Roush and Childress certainly aren't going to hire him.

I think he's looking at his older brother and saw, very quickly, where his career was going to be in two years if he kept his act going.
 
And I think Kyle's a better driver now. Yeah, he's not clicking off seven wins a year. But one big issue Kyle has, as pointed out, when he has a bad day, it's really bad and Kyle lets it carry over for weeks. This year, he doesn't let one bad race carry over and completely melt down.
 
Matthew2470 said:
Kyle needs to do what's best for him, his team and his career and not worry about what's supposedly best for NASCAR.
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Or, in this case, what's best for the media. Having Kyle Busch in a top ride in the sport is better for the sport than his career ending prematurely because of his attitude like his older brother.
 
Kyle has been giving some nice comments to the media lately. Who cares if he runs off when he has no commitment to address the media. Most reporters respected that and left him alone. Pockrass and Marty showed theor Paparazzi gene by chasing him down trying to elicit an Enquirer moment instead of writing about that amazing finish.
 
Kyle got neutered by NASCAR and JGR after his stunt with Hornaday. He may have the fire inside, but it's certainly supressed because another major goof and he's gone.
 
mike honcho said:
It would be easier if they would let Jr win more races.:D
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Jr and Danica coming to the finish line fighting for the win, a photo finish that shows a dead tie. WOW!

Then Helton wakes up and realizes he peed his pants while he was dreaming. :eek:
 
Smoke14 said:
Jr and Danica coming to the finish line fighting for the win, a photo finish that shows a dead tie. WOW!

Then Helton wakes up and realizes he peed his pants while he was dreaming. :eek:
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lol.......then Helton fully wakes up and realises Brian is standing over his bed.
 
IMO, I don't think Kyle has ever learned how to deal with failure/bad luck. I think his racing ability has been so dominant from the beginning, that failure/bad luck never played a part --- he's never had to win on Sunday to pay the bills on Monday. This down year has him confused and frustrated.
 
TexasRaceLady said:
IMO, I don't think Kyle has ever learned how to deal with failure/bad luck. I think his racing ability has been so dominant from the beginning, that failure/bad luck never played a part --- he's never had to win on Sunday to pay the bills on Monday. This down year has him confused and frustrated.
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I think thats a good thing, may make him put his big boy pants on and grow up into a world class racer.
 
TexasRaceLady said:
IMO, I don't think Kyle has ever learned how to deal with failure/bad luck. I think his racing ability has been so dominant from the beginning, that failure/bad luck never played a part --- he's never had to win on Sunday to pay the bills on Monday. This down year has him confused and frustrated.
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It seems with him more than anybody, if things are good, they're good. If they're bad, it's really bad. He cannot just shake off things, with his talent, it's the only thing seperating him from Jimmie Johnson. He's a great driver, he just needs to be a smart driver.
 
I actually feel good about Kyle actually changing this time. I know I've said that each of the last 3 years only to be proven wrong. This time just feels special.
 
Thegroundpounder99 said:
It seems with him more than anybody, if things are good, they're good. If they're bad, it's really bad. He cannot just shake off things, with his talent, it's the only thing seperating him from Jimmie Johnson. He's a great driver, he just needs to be a smart driver.
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IMO, he's intimidated by JJ and HMS. This is why he's spent the past few years running off to the minors to get his confidence repaired.
 
FenderBumper said:
IMO, he's intimidated by JJ and HMS. This is why he's spent the past few years running off to the minors to get his confidence repaired.
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I just don't think he's good with handling pressure and digging himself out of a hole. He is running the NCWTS this weekend at Atlanta so we will see if he can benefit from that. I think that's hurting him this year too not running as much as he has in the past. He wouldn't be the only driver intimidated by that 48 and HMS though:D
 
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