Kyle Busch relishes role as the guy folks love to hate

Media General News Service
Published: September 5, 2008

Kyle Busch exhaled a deeply compressed sigh of relief only days after being unceremoniously dumped by Hendrick Motorsports midway through the 2007 season.

He pocketed his pink slip without much complaint after Dale Earnhardt Jr. bumped him into the unemployment line. He carried on to Michigan International Speedway, where he was afforded little time to heal a bruised ego.

Then, when Joe Gibbs Racing offered him a ride nearly two months later, Busch managed to contain his enthusiasm, albeit barely. The soon-to-be-dismissed Hendrick driver was provided an opportunity for payback—a chance at redemption.

“As a competitor, you want to beat everybody,“ said Busch’s former teammate Jeff Gordon. “I would think he has some extra motivation for winning. I think he’s always had something to prove.

“I always knew how talented [Busch] was, but keeping his head on straight and not making mistakes and being able to handle the pressures are what were unanswered questions.“

So far, Busch has erased all doubt.

The Las Vegas native enters tomorrow night’s Sprint Cup regular-season finale—the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway—with a sizable championship lead over his nearest pursuer and rival Carl Edwards.

Busch has amassed 18 NASCAR victories—eight Cup, seven Nationwide and three Craftsman Truck.

It’s the kind of performance that has enabled him to overshadow his usually outspoken, outgoing Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Tony Stewart. He’s having a season that has left others—save Edwards and two-time reigning Cup champion Jimmie Johnson—scrambling for table scraps.

“What he’s doing is incredible,“ said Gordon, who in 1998 won 13 Cup races. “The competition is fiercer. Anytime you can accomplish what he’s accomplished, it’s very, very significant.“

Busch is now the most-feared and most-dominant driver in the Sprint Cup Series.

He, too, is perceived as the toughest, baddest dude on the NASCAR block; a reputation sustained more by winning than the in-your-face posturing that took place during a postrace incident with Edwards at Bristol Motor Speedway, which landed both drivers on six-weeks’ probation.

“I’ve been fortunate to be in this position and have the year that we’ve had,“ Busch said. “But there’s still plenty of time left for anything to happen and hopefully that’s more wins to come our way, and be competitive as it comes down to the Chase.

“We can’t let up. We still have a lot to prove.“

Admittedly, Busch has been driven to prove he’s better than his Hendrick Motorsports successor, Earnhardt.

It’s why he’s brandishing a colossal chip on his shoulder. And why he’s wearing the “bad boy” image like a badge of honor.

“Kyle’s having an amazing year, and he’s a great talent,“ Earnhardt said. “You can’t take anything away from him as much as you would like to.

“I think Carl Edwards is All-American, kind of, and Kyle is definitely more the bad boy. I think [their rivalry] is good for the sport.“

Cleary, Busch has accepted the role of villain. He settled into that role during the spring races at RIR where he tangled with Edwards in the Nationwide event before bumping Earnhardt off the lead late in the Dan Lowry 400.

“I don’t remember anything about that situation [in Richmond],“ Busch said.

Edwards and Earnhardt remember, vividly.

“We just never had the urge to reach out to each other,“ Earnhardt said. “Let’s see what happens in Richmond.“

Busch is unapologetic. It’s an attitude, he acknowledges, that’s likely to make him a target during the Chase as his circle of friends shrinks.

“How many [rivals] do I need?“ Busch asked sarcastically during the postrace press conference at Bristol.

In Edwards, Busch knows he has at least one rival.

“I know deep down that what [Busch] says doesn’t matter to me,“ said Edwards, who has won three of the past five Cup races. “And I know what I say doesn’t matter to him.

“I hope [the championship] comes down to just me and one other guy. If it’s Kyle, that’s fine.“

Busch insists he’s ready to lace up his gloves and battle Edwards and Johnson for the championship. In reality, he’d been ready to fight for the title the moment Rick Hendrick signed Earnhardt—and fired him.

“Jimmie is going to be a guy that you’re going to have to worry about,“ Busch said. “But I have no doubt we can win.“
Contact Ralph N. Paulk at (804) 649-6851 or .