Fast Times
A NASCAR BLOG BY Kris Johnson
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Oh, brother. Who do you take: Kyle or Kurt?
Jul
10
Perhaps it’s because a Busch brother has graced the cover of NASCAR Scene for three weeks running now, or the fact the Williams sisters played against each other on a grand championship stage last weekend at Wimbledon, but it’s brought the notion of sibling rivalry back to the forefront in sports. With Kyle sandwiching victories at Infineon Raceway and Daytona around Kurt’s rain-aided win at New Hampshire, they’ve both enjoyed time in the spotlight recently.
It’s interesting to note how Kyle’s career record is mirroring his older brother’s in Cup competition. Their Cup careers both began with a partial season; Kurt did not record a top-10 finish in seven starts in 2000, and Kyle failed to crack the top 10 in six starts back in 2004.
With two years of full-time competition under their belts, though, both brothers had managed to finish among the top 10 in points. Kurt was third in 2002 and Kyle 10th in 2006.
In just his fourth full-time season, in 2004, Kurt won the Cup title in the first year with the Chase format.
Oh, by the way, this is Kyle’s fourth year as a full-time Cup competitor. A harbinger, perhaps? Nobody’s handing him the championship yet, but clearly he is on pace to duplicate Kurt’s achievement.
Midway through the 2008 campaign, Kyle’s series-leading six wins have already doubled the three Kurt produced in all of 2004 en route to his championship. He leads the Cup standings by 182 points over Dale Earnhardt r.
While it hasn’t been much of a contest this season – Kurt Busch is 18th in points heading into Chicago – a look back at the Busch brothers’ track records through their formative years as full-time Cup drivers reveals a sibling rivalry worth watching.
Kyle, 23, and six years younger than Kurt, has been getting the better of it of late. But, for now anyway, big brother is the only one of them to win NASCAR’s ultimate prize.
Advantage, Kurt Busch.
It’s interesting to note how Kyle’s career record is mirroring his older brother’s in Cup competition. Their Cup careers both began with a partial season; Kurt did not record a top-10 finish in seven starts in 2000, and Kyle failed to crack the top 10 in six starts back in 2004.
With two years of full-time competition under their belts, though, both brothers had managed to finish among the top 10 in points. Kurt was third in 2002 and Kyle 10th in 2006.
In just his fourth full-time season, in 2004, Kurt won the Cup title in the first year with the Chase format.
Oh, by the way, this is Kyle’s fourth year as a full-time Cup competitor. A harbinger, perhaps? Nobody’s handing him the championship yet, but clearly he is on pace to duplicate Kurt’s achievement.
Midway through the 2008 campaign, Kyle’s series-leading six wins have already doubled the three Kurt produced in all of 2004 en route to his championship. He leads the Cup standings by 182 points over Dale Earnhardt r.
While it hasn’t been much of a contest this season – Kurt Busch is 18th in points heading into Chicago – a look back at the Busch brothers’ track records through their formative years as full-time Cup drivers reveals a sibling rivalry worth watching.
Kyle, 23, and six years younger than Kurt, has been getting the better of it of late. But, for now anyway, big brother is the only one of them to win NASCAR’s ultimate prize.
Advantage, Kurt Busch.
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Poll Position
Which NASCAR competitor should be Driver of the Year?
Comments
3 responses to "Oh, brother. Who do you take: Kyle or Kurt?"
Stanley Newton said:
Jul 13, 2008 at 7:53 AMKyle is becoming a Legend. This is the year that made him famous...he's funny, he's aggressive, he's ON FIRE!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportKim Palmer said:
Jul 14, 2008 at 10:10 AMCAN YA'LL SAY...... KYLE WOODS, KYLE RUTH, KYLE SANDERS, KYLE JORDAN, KYLE GRETZKY, KYLE SCHUMACHER AND SOON......................KYLE PETTY????? THAT HAS A RING TO IT DOESN'T IT? I'VE HEARD IT BEFORE.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportSharon Bringle said:
Jul 16, 2008 at 9:35 AMI would say Kurt! I like him alot better than Kyle Busch!
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This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
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