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Kyle Busch says team has exceeded its own expectations in 2008
By SceneDaily Staff
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Jerry Markland
Getty Images for NASCAR
NEW YORK - With a series-high eight wins this season, Kyle Busch seems to be the odds-on favorite to win the 2008 Sprint Cup Series title.
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver has won on intermediate tracks, restrictor-plate tracks, road courses and nearly won on two short tracks.
He’s led laps seemingly at will on occasion and has at times been downright dominant.
But success during NASCAR’s 26-race regular season doesn’t necessarily guarantee the same measure of success in the 10-race Chase For The Sprint Cup that begins with this Sunday's Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Busch is well aware of that. Still, the first-year JRG driver isn’t losing any sleep over how he’ll fare in the Chase – even if he is a popular choice to claim his first Cup crown. In his mind, he and his team have already exceeded their own personal expectations for this season.
“I’m not really putting any pressure on myself, but I think a lot of other people are expecting us to win the championship [because of] how we’ve run this year,” Busch said during Wednesday's Chase media day in New York City. “But to us, this year was supposed to be a building year. Being a part of Joe Gibbs Racing, just joining Joe Gibbs Racing and working with [crew chief] Steve Addington and Joe Gibbs Racing just joining Toyota, this was all supposed to be a building year in getting ready for next year and going after the championship then, but things have come along really, really fast, and it’s happening this year.
“So we can only go out there and run as well as our cars will allow us to run and be as good as we can be, and whatever we’re given that day, we’ll have to take, and hopefully it’s good enough.”
Busch, who spent his first three Cup seasons in the No. 5 car of Hendrick Motorsports, stepped into a ride this season that hadn’t won a race since 2003 with Bobby Labonte. Prior to this season, Busch himself had just four wins over his three years at Hendrick where his Cup career began full time in 2005.
At JRG he teamed up with Addington, a crew chief with no prior experience as a Cup pit boss, and joined an organization that switched from Chevrolet to Toyota for the 2008 season. That chemistry and success came so quickly was a surprise to the Busch.
Even if the Las Vegas native doesn't win the championship this season, the year won't be a total loss, he says.
“It’s been a great season, and we’ve had a lot of success this year and really we thought it was going to be a building year,” said Busch, who opens the Chase with a 30-point lead over second-place Carl Edwards. “We thought this year was going to be the year to come out and build our relationship. … Everything has just been kind of thrown together, and we’ve been here to compete for the championship. So it would obviously be great to win the championship. It’d be very gratifying. … But still, you know, there’s plenty
more years that we can look forward to being able to have this much success, hopefully.”
How many more years does Busch have to compete for championships? The 23-year-old says he hopes to race until he is at least 40. And he smirked at the notion that he is already in the prime of his career.
“I’m 23 years old. I hope I still have 17 more years left here,” he said. “I’m hoping I’m not hitting my prime or if I am, then I’m hoping my prime is about 16 years long.
“You’d always like to do well every year, but, I mean, looking at it, 17 more years, that’s a lot more years to try to win championships, so there’s plenty of opportunities that will arise in the future. Hopefully, this is the first of many.”
Mentioned Drivers: Kyle Busch
2009 Sprint Cup Race for the Chase Standings
Driver Standings after the Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500
| 1 | Jimmie Johnson | 6492 |
| 2 | Mark Martin | -108 |
| 3 | Jeff Gordon | -169 |
| 4 | Kurt Busch | -211 |
| 5 | Tony Stewart | -285 |
| 6 | Juan Pablo Montoya | -289 |
| 7 | Greg Biffle | -321 |
| 8 | Denny Hamlin | -352 |
| 9 | Ryan Newman | -411 |
| 10 | Kasey Kahne | -476 |
| 11 | Carl Edwards | -520 |
| 12 | Brian Vickers | -666 |
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Comments
10 responses to "Kyle Busch says team has exceeded its own expectations in 2008". Post a Comment.
otis gleason said:
Sep 10, 2008 at 6:38 PMHopefully, this is the first of many, I agree this will be the first of many with kyles driving skills and gibbs persistance and addingtons understanding,the total comittment of the crew. If it walks like a duck,If it quacks like a duck, its probably a duck! And for sure a Championship!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportGregory Pope said:
Sep 11, 2008 at 1:09 PMKyle is a good driver and has a lot of talent but he has no class and until he changes a champion he will never be.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportSheldon Miller said:
Sep 11, 2008 at 2:35 PMThanks Yoda
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» Confirm Abuse ReportJuniegirl said:
Sep 11, 2008 at 2:38 PMI sure don't know why everyone acts like he's the best driver in the world. Remember other drivers have had "hot" years, won championships, and then haven't done squat since. If he really had that much talent, he would have shown it in that 5 car last year. No, he was too busy getting mad and leaving the track when he should have gotten back in his "tore up" car. You'll see some more of that when that "luck" runs out. When Logano starts getting all of the attention, Busch will act like a big baby.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportRex Lee said:
Sep 11, 2008 at 3:46 PMHey Juniegirl. You left a post on Ralph Dale Earnharts page saying if anyone wasn't a fan of his stay off of it. How come you don't respect other drivers? I guess post #3 is the same huh? Where was it earlier this year that Dink Jr.tore up his own car and walked away? He has NO repect for any of you pore people that cheer for him. But I do agree that Richman was a racing insident. Lets see if he's going to step up grow a p&&*$$ and fight for a championship.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportPat Draper said:
Sep 11, 2008 at 5:19 PMI really hope kyle does win the championship even though i'm not a hugh fan of his i love it when he beats one of the hendricks cars. It was hendrick that kicked him out to make room for casey then kicked casey out to make way for martin who if he races until he's 70 won't win a championship. Kyle is one of the great drivers i watch the truck, nationwide and cup just to see him. He's fun to watch. Nascar was getting really boring until this year when Kyle came to life. And why does every one think Joey is so great because he's won 1 race so far. He's a good driver but don't compare him to Kyle or Tony. You hear him on tv and he sounds like a kid, hay he is a kid that can drive so what!!!!!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportPat Draper said:
Sep 11, 2008 at 5:23 PMJuat a foot note to some of you kyle haters did you know that he doesn't take any money for running the truck for Billy he gives the money back to the team cause they need it. How many of you would do that????????
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» Confirm Abuse ReportScott Baker said:
Sep 11, 2008 at 7:02 PMDidn't know that Pat. Is that true? Where did you hear that? The kid can DEFINITELY drive.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportgwen thompson said:
Sep 11, 2008 at 8:58 PMThat is true. Kyle Busch in the truck and nationwide 32 only take the Trophy. The team keeps the money. I would say the kid does have a heart.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportPat Watson said:
Sep 12, 2008 at 8:23 AMJuniegirl, It may have been WHO he was driving for that held him back so the pretty boys could win. He has TALENT and he is the best driver for now and yes we will see how he does next year. Give him a break, we all need to grow a little at that age.
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