August 25, 2010
By Chuck Abrams
If you watched the race at Bristol this past weekend, you can say you were there when Kyle Busch became the first driver to ever win all three touring series races in a single weekend at a single track.
Love him or hate him, the kid can flat out drive.
And there has been plenty to hate. Kyle makes it pretty easy actually. In the truck race, Kyle was listed as the pole sitter but had to start at the rear of the field, due to some changes the team made. If not for that, he would have made official history once again - because official or not, he accomplished another feat no one else has done; Drive from the back of the field to win a truck race at Bristol.
On his way to the victory, Kyle drove and pushed his way through the field. He hooked Jennifer Jo Cobb and drove right through her truck when he ran out of patience. Could he have waited? Sure, he was in fact -- the fastest truck on the track. But he chose do to it the Kyle Way. Jennifer Jo was much more polite in public about the altercation than Brad Keselowski was about his tangle with Kyle during Cup driver introductions.
During the Nationwide race, Brad and Kyle were racing for the win. Kyle cut up in front of Brad but got loose on his own and Brad gave him the ol' Bristol bump-n'-run. Perfectly legal and fine. A move with a rich tradition. Kyle took umbrage, got back to Brad's bumper and hooked him and spun him out. Kyle took complete responsibility and said he did it on purpose.
Brad took the opportunity during driver introduction on Saturday night to call Kyle a three letter word associated with pack animals.
While roundly cheered, it was probably not the smartest move of his young career.
But hey, we all want a rivalry and Kyle and Brad (or Carl and Brad) or Brad and just about anyone for that matter seem to have it going on.
Many folks wonder why Kyle was not fined for those moves. Honestly, ya got me there. I have heard many different opinions on that this week and the one that makes the most sense is that Kyle has not made a regular practice of taking drivers out and it was after all, Bristol.
Kyle has entered a stratosphere few other drivers have attained. He is winning in all three series and seems to be a serious threat for the Cup championship this year. Kyle has had his ups and downs but seems to be firing on all cylinders right now and could pose a threat to Harvick and Johnson once the Chase starts. Kyle has entered the Chase as the favorite before and has had bad racing luck coupled with his own attitude ruin his chances.
This year he enters the Chase with far less pressure on him -- and Kyle is having fun being Kyle. Love him or hate him, he doesn't care as long as he wins.
Let me know your thoughts.
Drive fast, turn left and keep the shiny side up.
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