Kyle Busch Has Eye On Chase and Nationwide Wins
Apr 18, 2008
CIA Stock Photo, Inc.
Kyle Busch remains undecided about whether he will run this season’s entire NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule. The first-year Joe Gibbs Racing Sprint Cup driver knows one thing for certain, however: He’s had a good time thus far.
“The consideration is there, but it’s a race-by-race deal for me right now. If I go out and win a bunch of these in a row, we might reevaluate. It’s great to be able to come out and race in the Nationwide Series since I have such a blast doing it. Our concentration is on our Cup effort, and we’re second in points over there and running consistently near the front every week. We still have to concentrate on the Cup stuff to make sure we stay toward the front in points and make the Chase. If I feel comfortable on how things are going over there, then maybe we’ll see how the chips fall on the Nationwide Series side. There’s no doubt it’s fun having a chance to win in the Nationwide Series each week with how well both these Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas have been running so far this year.”
He has dominated the last two Nationwide Series races and he has made it look easy. But he says, “it’s not that easy at all. Carl Edwards had a really strong car at Phoenix and Jeff Burton ran very strong at Texas. Jason Ratcliff and the guys gave me great cars at the last two races, and earlier this season for that matter. Dave Rogers also gave me great stuff in the races I’ve been with the 20 team this year, but we just haven’t had the luck with them and I’m hoping that will change with the Doosan guys in Mexico. Fortunately, we had track position during both wins and the great last pit stop at Phoenix. I wouldn’t say it’s easy to win races in this series, or any other NASCAR series. Obviously, I missed out on three or four wins in the early part of the year because of some bad luck. The fact that we’ve led so many laps so far this season in the Nationwide Series, along with the two wins, is just a testament to the equipment at JGR and just being able to get together with some great crew chiefs who really work hard. It’s just good chemistry.”
“We still have to concentrate on the Cup stuff to make sure we stay toward the front in points and make the Chase. If I feel comfortable on how things are going over there, then maybe we’ll see how the chips fall on the Nationwide Series side.”
The chips couldn’t have fallen any better for Busch in his previous two Nationwide Series outings at Phoenix International Raceway and Texas Motor Speedway. He dominated and won both, avenging several disappointing finishes brought on by mechanical troubles, cut tires or accidents in the season’s first eight races.
“I missed out on three or four wins in the early part of the year because of some bad luck,” the 22-year-old driver said.
