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Kyle Busch endures another championship setback, falls to 210 points off the pace

By Jeff Gluck - Associate Editor

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Article Rating: 3.7
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Chris Graythen / Getty Images

Chris Graythen / Getty Images

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DOVER, Del. - Even in the most terrifying of Kyle Busch’s nightmares, his 2008 Chase For The Sprint Cup didn’t start like this.
   
Human error that caused a sway bar to come loose at New Hampshire cost him his points lead in the first Chase race. A week later at Dover, a rare engine failure left him dead last in both the race and the Chase.
   
On top of the NASCAR world just two weeks ago, Busch has spiraled to what must seem like the depths of the Sprint Cup basement. Already, Busch has seen enough to conclude that his chances at winning the Chase are finished.
   
“We’re out of the title hunt,” said Busch, looking grim-faced. “That’s for sure.”
   
The one-two punch of bad races was unbelievable and surreal to Busch and his team.
   
Just 145 laps into the 400-lap race, Busch knew his motor was dying. The engine was sounding sick and smoke began to trail from the tailpipe.
   
“This is going to blow up after this restart,” he told his team.
   
His engine managed to last about 25 more laps before it finally expired.
   
As the crew pushed the silent car down pit road and into the garage – fans standing and cheering at the sight – crew chief Steve Addington radioed his team and tried to keep the Joe Gibbs Racing group from panicking.
   
“Just take a deep breath here,” he said. “Everybody just stay cool. There’s nothing we can do about that.”
   
The mistake by someone at Gibbs prior to the New Hampshire race seemed to cost Busch his mulligan for the Chase – if there’s even a mulligan to be had. But to lose an engine? In the Chase?
   
It was only the second time in 84 combined points races this season that a JGR car had blown an engine – and it was a first for Busch.
   
“[JGR engine builder] Mark Cronquist and his guys have been bulletproof all year long,” Addington said. “If anybody says anything about our engine department, tell them to come and see me.”
   
Addington placed the blame on a faulty part in the engine.
   
“We can take chances now and win races and show them that it was just bad parts that got us,” he said.
   
Busch took a few minutes to cool off, then exited his hauler and calmly answered questions from reporters one week after bolting at New Hampshire without comment.
   
He noted that something was broken inside the engine and reminded the media of his 2006 Chase, when he also wrecked at New Hampshire and blew an engine at Dover. He finished last among Chase drivers that year.
   
With that in mind, Busch shrugged off any talk about getting back into the title hunt. At 210 points behind leader Carl Edwards, there was little reason for optimism.
   
“At this point, it doesn’t matter,” he said.

Average Rating: 3.7

Comments

68 responses to "Kyle Busch endures another championship setback, falls to 210 points off the pace"
  1. 1
    robert mcleester said:
    Sep 21, 2008 at 6:13 PM

    the race has been over for hours now and no words of comfort from the kyle busch fans? do you feel it slipping away? sounds like resignation from kyle busch does it not? maybe next year?

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  2. 2
    ed gordon said:
    Sep 21, 2008 at 6:43 PM

    No word from Kyle fans because they're all scrambling onto another bandwagon.

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  3. 3
    T C said:
    Sep 21, 2008 at 6:52 PM

    Poor Kyle Busch. Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. As a Dale Jr fan I have no sympathy for him, he is just getting what he deserves. At least he didn't run and hide this week, so Joe Gibbs would have to do the talking for him.

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  4. 4
    chris welch said:
    Sep 21, 2008 at 8:06 PM

    lmao!

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  5. 5
    Jayne Deere said:
    Sep 21, 2008 at 9:00 PM

    Kyle Busch might not take the championship this season but I bet he places higher in the standings than Dale Jr. when it is all said and done.

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  6. 6
    chris welch said:
    Sep 21, 2008 at 10:38 PM

    DOUBTFUL JAYNE

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  7. 7
    chris welch said:
    Sep 21, 2008 at 10:43 PM

    the interesting part to me is even without the chase, the points race would be wide open right now with these two poor finishes. so no one could say he got robbed of the championship.

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  8. 8
    STEVEN SPARKS said:
    Sep 22, 2008 at 2:50 AM

    Poor kyle, I was hoping other drivers would vent their frustration against him from his previous race antics during the chase and knock that smirk off his face. But lo and behold it is his own team! Kyle, you need to bow down to Dale Sr truly the greatest driver that you will NEVER get near! Remember the apple doesn't fall far from the apple tree when Dale Sr taught Jr racing moves in what little time they had together on the track. No matter how hard your little brain with a mega ego thinks how great you are you will never be the amongst the few who are great or even mediocre for that matter. Too bad you can't fall out of the chase.

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  9. 9
    beth emerson said:
    Sep 22, 2008 at 4:37 AM

    FOR JAYNE YOU NEED TO GET A LIFE. DOUBT THAT PEE WEE WILL DO AYNTHING EXCPECT WHAT HE DOES BEST. LETS SEE. RUN AND CRY LIKE THE BABY HE IS. NO TITLE FOR THE TWIT YEAH. JR WILL FINISH HIGHER STILL COULD WIN THE WHOLE THING UNLIKE YOUR BUDDY MR BUSCH. GROW UP JAYNE.

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  10. 10
    Jayne Deere said:
    Sep 22, 2008 at 4:48 AM

    I'm not a Busch fan I just call it like I see it. I wonder if I had mentioned a driver other than Jr. if I would have met up with such hostility. Beth, I think you are the one that needs to grow up. Your post sounds like a Jr. High student wrote it. Get over yourself.

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  11. 11
    Robert Wingert said:
    Sep 22, 2008 at 5:18 AM

    Lets look at the last two races as being positive. We won't be reading any Kyle Brush articles for the rest of the year. Worm Dirt is back in his hole. I maybe mistaken but Kyle Brush is the only driver to win 8 races in a season and lost the championship. A record he can be proud of. JGR move to Toyota was a mistake. His only driver with a chance to win is going to Chevy next year. what a great year it has been.

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  12. 12
    chris welch said:
    Sep 22, 2008 at 5:56 AM

    it just shows that nothing is promised in NASCAR. it is the most unpredictable sport. all of the "experts" sure were wrong. i heard on many occasions that it was just a matter of kyle showing up every week and you could go ahead and carve his name on the trophy. but it is not over. everyone will have their problems. talladega is soon and martinsville. anything can still happen.

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  13. 13
    Chazzo Ozzahc said:
    Sep 22, 2008 at 6:17 AM

    Doesnt deserve the title acting the way he does,poor loser and not optimistic.

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  14. 14
    anonymous said:
    Sep 22, 2008 at 6:21 AM

    NA NA NA NA, NA NA NA NA, HEY HEY GOODBYE!!!! THANKS KYLE, WE KNEW YOU COULDN'T WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP, ALL THOSE BOWS WASTED. CAN YOU MAKE A BIG FAT ZERO ON ONE HAND, INSTEAD OF COUNTING YOUR WINS? WORMY IS IN HIS HOLE, ALL THOSE E-MAILS HE WASTED ON SUPPORTING KYLE. IN HIS WORDS YEEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWW!

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  15. 15
    Michelle Trice said:
    Sep 22, 2008 at 7:09 AM

    Kyle Busch had a great run this year. Hate to see the title go down the drain so ealy in the chase. There is always next year. Kuddoes to Addington for trying to help his team keep their heads up, they have no reason to doubt themselves. Here's to a better next season and hopefully the title!

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  16. 16
    marian mcclain said:
    Sep 22, 2008 at 7:46 AM

    Kyle has had a good season no doubt. Good driver. Jr will finish higher and even if he doesn't can't take away that magical thing about him that everybody loves.

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  17. 17
    otis gleason said:
    Sep 22, 2008 at 8:12 AM

    Kyle smokes Jr. In chase, You guys are smokeing Some good stuff. Kyle has to break for jr to beat him. He can't Do it If Kyle is running at the end.Juniors fans are as overated as he is, Biffel will win, Nascar has screwed up with this new format. Now Kyle has spoted Jr 2 races and will still smoke him,

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  18. 18
    PB said:
    Sep 22, 2008 at 8:40 AM

    Otis, Its funny you give Kyle all the credit and Jr. all the blame. If you knew anything about racing at all you would understand that this is a TEAM sport and Kyle has had the best Team most of the season giving him great cars to drive and Jr. has had cars at time that were not very good. This involves the Drivers and Teams. So lets reserve judgment for a few years and see where they are down the road is Kyle a flash in the pan or for real we'll see in time. . I am not a Kyle fan by any means but I hate to see any driver possibly lose a title shot this way.

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  19. 19
    anonymous said:
    Sep 22, 2008 at 8:49 AM

    Otis, you must be a politician because you sure are a flip flopper. On Sept 9, you predicted that KB would win the Chase and Greg Biffle would end up 8th. My how the tide has turned. All of you that jumped on the KB bandwagon sure did jump off in a hurry and went to the Ford side. I find it amusing that you blame JR for Kyles misfortunes. Yeah, I saw the HMS employees mess with the sway bar last week and they rigged the engine this week so KB would have 2 bad races. Talk about smoking some good stuff man. Where do you come up with this crap?? So what if KB smokes Jr in the Chase, fact remains KB will not be sitting at the head table at the awards banquet. He will be in the cheap seats, practicing his girlfriends name so he gets it right when his turn comes to give his runner-up speech.

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  20. 20
    Sheldon Miller said:
    Sep 22, 2008 at 9:17 AM

    One word - Karma.

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  21. 21
    liz labroska said:
    Sep 22, 2008 at 10:39 AM

    Poor Kyle,who really cares, he's nothing but a smart alec, over grown, spoiled brat. He can't face the music when he loses.

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  22. 22
    Lindsey Jacobs said:
    Sep 22, 2008 at 11:22 AM

    Wow. I can't believe the childishness of this comment board. That being said, Kyle has had 2 mechanical failures in 2 races. Does that mean that he can't drive a car? No. Does it mean that JGR switching to Toyota was a mistake? 8 wins by Busch says no. If you hate Kyle, fine. But bashing him and calling names is not showing how smart you are....it just shows your poor sportsmanship and that you are no better than what you accuse him of being. There are still 8 races to go, and Kyle DOES do his best work when he is out to prove a point. I am not saying that he will win it all, but I am saying that before you dismiss him as a lesser-talented driver, perhaps you should watch the way he competes for the next 8 races. And one last thought...I do not condone driver bashing. It is ignorant and immature. But to those that love Dale Earnhardt Jr....what kind of statement are you making about YOUR driver when you act in such a manner?

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  23. 23
    Kim Palmer said:
    Sep 22, 2008 at 11:34 AM

    Right on Lindsey. Name calling, back stabbing, finger pointing is such a waste of time, call your shot, praise your driver and have an intellegent conversation and be positive about the sport in general.

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  24. 24
    roger pulley said:
    Sep 22, 2008 at 11:39 AM

    I'm with you Lindsey,makes you feel like grade school again!

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  25. 25
    Peggy Thacker said:
    Sep 22, 2008 at 11:49 AM

    All I can say is....roflmaooo!!! Maybe Kyle got a little more of that "reap what you sow" business that Joe Gibbs spouted off to Carl Edwards! He was so arrogant when interviewed 2 weeks ago, and in his smug sarcastic way, he said..I really think this is My year! I'll get the cup, then maybe take a couple years off so Jr. can do his thing! Now tell me that wasnt a "typical" smart-alec remark from the so called great driver! I will give him credit on his driving up to a point, but his attitude and smirky grins kills it! He is a little spoiled brat that crys when he doesnt win! Surprised he even talked on camera Sunday!

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  26. 26
    Lindsey Jacobs said:
    Sep 22, 2008 at 12:25 PM

    Wow. Once again I am floored. I mean, really. He cries everytime he doesn't win? He left the track last week at NH because he was frustrated. Maybe because I actually admore these men for the job they do every week, but I think it would have been better for him to leave than to comeon camera and say that he was angry that an oversight by one of his mechanics caused his poor finish. And you complained about that, so he takes the time to comment this week, and you find fault in that? At what point do we accept that this is what we want from these drivers, the full, raw emotion? Perhaps only certain drivers should be allowed to say what they actually think? I suppose Kyle should have to meet with the media every week to say "I lost and I am crying because I am a big baby. I suck and everyone else is far superior to me." We could do that, but if that is the case, I fully expect every other driver to do the same. Double standard, don't you think? I don't recall reading anywhere on here where Kyle actually cried. And for the record, negativity is a part of life. Another, most popular, driver has been known to be particularly negative on occasion. How sad is it that we, presumably adults, feel that we have the earned right to bash ANY driver that has a sub-par week? I ask you, please, refrain from the name-calling and driver-bashing. I do not read stories about your driver, whomever that may be, and laugh and taunt when your driver has a bad week, and it is not right for you to do it to any other driver.

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  27. 27
    Satspeed 9 said:
    Sep 22, 2008 at 12:27 PM

    Otis just comes in here spewing the same BS every week. Give it a rest, I know you are a Kyle fan but there are other drivers that your little boy races against. In regards to Jr, GET OVER IT. Dont you think you should have been a little more worrihed about the 48? No, just keep whining about the 88, good plan. I am a Tony fan, but it was really enjoyable to watch Kyle have all the luck for the regular season just to see it run out in the chase. But JR whaaaa

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  28. 28
    Satspeed 9 said:
    Sep 22, 2008 at 12:41 PM

    Lindasy Everyone is free to come in here and comment on any driver that they want. In a perfect world you may be right, but this is not that world.

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  29. 29
    Doug Webster said:
    Sep 22, 2008 at 12:48 PM

    New sponsors for Schrub (Worm) next year. Puffs and Pampers.What is he going to do without Tony there to wipe his nose and change his diaper? Gibbs will now have three snot nose, dirty pants kids in his nursery.I wish all the bad luck to Gibbs and Toyota. Kyle Bush, Hero to Zero in just two short weeks!

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  30. 30
    McReal Name said:
    Sep 22, 2008 at 12:56 PM

    hey #29 doug, at least he is/was a hero, unlike RIDING ON DADDYS COATTAILES loser 88.(or was that 08, or _8, so hard to keep track of mediocre drives...)

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  31. 31
    Doug Webster said:
    Sep 22, 2008 at 1:02 PM

    My favorite driver is anyone that wrecks a Toyota!

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  32. 32
    Satspeed 9 said:
    Sep 22, 2008 at 1:09 PM

    Hey MCREAL NAME, why dont you get a MCREAL opinon. Why are you so obsessed with Jr? Should there be other drivers to worry about? Congrats on the regular season Title though, you and Kyle deserve it.

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  33. 33
    Satspeed 9 said:
    Sep 22, 2008 at 1:12 PM

    Winning 18 races in 8 years, Daytona 500, 2 Busch titles. That is horrible, but, oh yeah, Kyle has done none of that.

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  34. 34
    Go 29 Harvick said:
    Sep 22, 2008 at 1:25 PM

    wow... Was glad to see the ford boys up front yesterday - It was a good race.. I am happy that shrub is where he is... I agree with #20 sheldon - "Karma".... its funny how that works.... One to the next one!!!

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