NASCAR: Is Kyle Busch Becoming Reliable Without Us Noticing?

By ryanpritt on October 13, 2014

Maybe the most amazing thing about the fireworks after the race at Charlotte on Saturday night, other than the fact that Matt Kenseth was involved, was that a Busch brother wasn’t.

Usually after-race festivities suit them just fine, but instead it was a quiet and solid night for both Kyle Busch and Kurt Busch who finished fifth and 11th respectively. Almost without us noticing, quiet and consistent performances are what Kyle, the brother still in NASCAR‘s Chase for the Sprint Cup, has delivered as of late.

Neither Kyle nor Kurt are strangers to controversy and post-race activities. Especially Kyle, who has a well-earned reputation as a bit of a hot head after run-ins with Kevin Harvick and others. One of those run-ins left Kyle suspended in 2011 for a Nationwide and Sprint Cup race at Texas after he intentionally wrecked Ron Hornaday in a truck race that Friday night. And that’s hardly the only disciplinary action that has come Kyle Busch’s way.

While some of his actions have come into question, no one has ever questioned Kyle Busch’s talent. It’s his unabashed aggressiveness that has cost Kyle Busch championships and a lot more wins. Those two attributes have pretty much defined Kyle Busch’s career to this point. Don’t believe me? Just search on Google for quotes about Kyle Busch. You will get gems like:

“He’s the only driver I know who can go three-wide all by himself . . . He’s hoppin’ around down there like a little league shortstop.” –Darrell Waltrip

and

“Kyle Busch has got to be the loneliest NASCAR driver ever. He’s led so many laps he never sees anybody in front of him for two-thirds of the race. He just sees clean racetrack…He’s the Maytag guy.” –Kyle Petty

and

“I can promise you one thing about Kyle this weekend—he’s going to be going real fast and bouncing off pretty much everything there is to bounce off of.” — Jeff Gordon

There are many more and all are as funny as they are revealing about the contrast between his recklessness and ability.

But now, while the NASCAR world is focusing on the emergence of Joey Logano, the current struggles of Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Brad Keselowski, the fountain of youth that Gordon has found, the amazing rookie season Kyle Larson continues to build upon, and the dominant cars of Harvick — Busch is quietly and finally evolving from checkers or wreckers, to a consistent, championship threat.

Kyle Busch is one of only two drivers to have registered a top 10 finish in each of the five Chase races so far along with Logano. The last time he pulled off five-straight top 10s they were actually all top 5s in a remarkable five-race stretch from March 10-April 13 at the beginning of last year.

However, that stretch was immediately followed by finishes of 38th, 24th, and 37th. Even now, it’s  justifiable to be a bit skeptical of his current run. In the six races prior to the Chase, Kyle had no top 10s including a brutal four-race stretch in which he finished 42nd, 40th, 39th, and 36th.

For now, Kyle sits solidly in third place, 24 points ahead of eighth-place Kasey Kahne who currently resides just above the cut line with only Sunday’s race at Talladega looming between four more drivers being eliminated from the Chase. Many have waited a long time for Busch’s immense talent to translate into championships and whether or not now is that time remains to be seen. But give Kyle Busch this, as of late he’s putting himself in position instead of taking himself and others out.

Ryan Pritt is a NASCAR writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on twitter @RPritt or add him to your network on Google.