January 2, 2010
By Brenda Benedict
Kyle Busch fan's have great hopes for an improvement for Busch in the new year. Kyle Busch's 2009 year started out strong but finished with great disappointment. But this December has been eventful for Busch and it will set the stage for a successful upcoming year.
Kyle Busch needs a start-over -- all that the new year will allow. After starting 2009 strong, Busch fell apart as the season progressed and at the end he was not a championship contender. He did not make the Chase to the Championship as one of the top 12 drivers but was 15th going into the final ten races of the year.
NASCAR needs what Kyle Busch brings to the track. He is a driver who gives his all in each race. He gives us a good show every time he pulls his car out on pit road. His fiery disposition has been a disappointment at times after the race when he refuses to talk to the press, but I can never say that Busch didn't try hard enough or give it his all.
Kyle Busch dominated the Truck Series by winning seven out of the 15 races that he entered. His achievement in the Nationwide Series was above that. He won the championship after garnering the checkered flag in nine of his 35 starts. He was in the top 10 in 30 of the Nationwide Races. This consistency led to the series championship for Busch but on the other hand this consistency was missing in his Sprint Cup Series races.
After being criticized for spreading himself too thin by racing in all three NASCAR major series, Busch countered by announcing in December that he is forming his own truck racing team, Kyle Busch Motorsports.
He explained himself by stating, "Everyone knows how much I love to race, and the Camping World Truck Series is one of my favorite places to race, so to be a team owner in this series is a perfect match."
The new role and responsibility may help Busch to mature and become better at handling the ups and downs of racing -- but what I don't want to see is a professional, well-handled, media savvy Kyle Busch.
Busch continued in the NASCAR news scene this final week of the year.
It has been reported that Kyle Busch signed a contract extension with Joe Gibbs Racing. His contract was not due to expire for another year, however getting it signed will eliminate the distraction of contract negotiations. The question that remains in my mind is why only a one year extension? A talent such as Kyle Busch has great potential for achievement.
Busch is reported to have said that he is content with Joe Gibbs Racing earlier this year. He stated that JGR felt like home and that he hoped to remain with the team that has accepted his occasional outbursts. Team owner Joe Gibbs and son J.D. “like me for who I am. They see I have the drive and tenacity to try to be the best there ever was.” Busch explained.
At 24 years old, Kyle Busch has already given us racing that is exciting in an often vanilla-flavored NASCAR world. I'm hoping 2010 continues to see him achieve success on the track. Thanks for the show Kyle.
You can follow me at Twitter @nascarfaithful
The thoughts and ideas expressed by this writer or any other writer on Insider Racing News, are not necessarily the views of the staff and/or management of IRN.
