Subscribe to this blog's feed« Old Darlington | Main | Every Woman Owns a Black Dress »
May 12, 2008
Kyle Busch Is King Of The Mountain
By Mark Young
It's been a while since I posted a KOM and I think it is a good time to do so. Kyle Busch, whether you like him or not, is the hottest thing in NASCAR........period. I don't care if you like him or not, every time he straps into that seat he is the one to be reckoned with.
His tangle with Dale Jr. has been blown so far out of proportion that it is bordering on insanity. I have read comments on blogs and message boards from Junior fans talking about how they are boycotting M&M Mars products, Pedigree Dog Food, and even e-mailed the sponsor to tell them to drop out as sponsors for his team.
Kyle Busch is exactly what NASCAR needed. Back in January during the NASCAR media tour Brian France talked about how they wanted to see personality from the drivers and Kyle has given us just that. Although Junior doesn't agree this sport has got a rivalry on it's hands. Did anyone see Kyle's reaction to the boo birds at Darlington while he was on the introduction parade lap? He lifted his glasses and pretended to wipe away a tear. Though I don't necessarily like his approach Kyle is being himself and is the man right now.
Kyle Busch is the real deal. Like him or not he is on top of the NASCAR world and I don't see him stepping down without a fight. He is either going to ride this wave and contend for the Cup or his ego might get bigger than his helmet and we could see it all come crumbling down. Either way Kyle Busch is King Of The Mountain......and deservedly so.
That's what I think, what say you?
May 12, 2008 | Permalink
Comments
lol - you know how I feel about this!
Hell, yeah! Good call.
Kyle, Tony, Robby, Johnny, Brendan, Ron, Todd, and Mike...those spirits are the soul of RACING. The fight to the checkered flag.
Not this ho-hum, "oh, excuse me", take care of my equipment, big picture bullshit that we've seen a prevalence of these last several years. Throw in the "Chase", and "good-bye racing" for the last 11 events.
My only prayer - and NASCAR's only hope of any ratings whatsoever during football season - is that Kyle makes the Chase.
I don't think he can win a championship, yet...but, damn - it would be fun to watch!
Posted by: the6and9 | May 12, 2008 10:42:57 PM
We talked about the emergence of Kyle and how he is the right thing for NASCAR right now when we recorded U Want Some? (on www.racetalkradio.com @ 10:00 on Wednesdays). Whether you like him or not he is creating a level of excitement we haven't seen in a while.
Posted by: Mark Young | May 12, 2008 10:52:52 PM
Now in the past I have gone on record for calling shrub a "Dart without feathers"...and i have seen signs of maturity...the latest, his backing off Biffle letting him collect it and then giving the position back...if only for a moment.
As far as the Jr Nation goes...Grow Up and quit being Punks...YOU WANT SOME?
Look back at some of our "Superstars" of the Modern Area...Darrell Waltrip, Dale Earnhart, Ricky Rud, Bill Elliott, Rusty Wallace, Tim Richmond and Jimmy Spencer who would rough up the competition.
You can look at the "Swap" Dale Earnhardt Jr (34)=License to print money for HMS BUT, The pressure is on to put up or shut up.
Kyle Busch(23)8 Wins in NW, CT and Cup, currently leading the Sprint Cup point Series JGR/TRD/Toyota 10 fold return...In the big picture Kyle Busch has Blue Sky Potential, And he sure as hell is more entertaining than say Jimmie "I need to buy a Personality" Johnson
Posted by: Fan #5 | May 12, 2008 11:24:55 PM
lol - Mark, what a shameless plug!
#5 - I'm afraid of what would happen if he ever did mature!
Posted by: the6and9 | May 12, 2008 11:32:41 PM
Sorry folks....thats suppose to be "Era"...some folks say potato some say potahto...I say
Posted by: Fan #5 | May 13, 2008 7:44:08 AM
Kyle has a number of Earnhardt characteristics. They both hate second and both have a knack for putting a car where the laws of physics say it shouldn't go. Other comparable traits, however, are sadly lacking.
Earnhardt had the patience to bring a 10th or 15th place car to a 5th place finish (without whining like a little girl on the radio all night). Kyle is more likely to crash pushing a bad machine (insert whining) past it's limits.
Earnhardt had a personality. He once said, "On the parade lap they can boo me or cheer me, but if they aren't making any noise, then I'm not doing my job." Boo'er or cheer'er you still got a smile and a wave. Kyle still acts like he's a sophomore in HS. He's 23, long past the age where maturity should have kicked in and yet he still has to stick his foot in his mouth or do things like the tear wipe. No class.
So, while he can drive a car, comparisons to Dale are dead in the water until he can develop some maturity and patience. A handful of championships wouldn't hurt either, because reckless and daring are only good when you back them up with championships.
And, lest I forget...
Mark, Kyle is indeed KOTM
Posted by: Keith | May 13, 2008 8:45:03 AM
#5,
Where's this so called pressure for Jr. to do anything but what he's doing now coming from? He's doing exactly what Hendrick wants. He's the highest Hendrick car, he's a mature driver with tons of fans, and he fits the Hendrick organization better than Kyle ever did. I'd bet that Jr., or no Jr., Kyle would not have been re-signed. As it is, it looks like a win win for both drivers and teams.
Posted by: Keith | May 13, 2008 8:54:24 AM
Maturity and patience and Dale Earnhardt didn't quite go together any more than they do with Kyle Busch. Moreover, Kyle Busch is manifestly NOT what the sport needed. The sport does not need more personality because it was already choking on it (where else would a failure like Kenny Wallace still be popular for a sport?); what the sport needed and still needs is more winning teams, more winning drivers, and even better racing. It also needs PROFESSIONALISM - drivers who don't talk out of turn, don't show off (no more burnouts, just a simple victory lap), and don't wreck their opponants.
Sorry, but teh sport needs Bobby Labonte and Matt Kenseth more than it needs Kyle Busch.
Posted by: Mike Daly | May 13, 2008 12:19:10 PM
Geeze Daly, you're full of it. Last year I was getting to where I couldn't bear to watch the races. This year I haven't missed watching one, and it isn't because of Labonte or Kenseth. Go Kyle!!
Posted by: Jerry | May 13, 2008 12:51:03 PM
Mike Daly - You contradict yourself. You want winners, winners, winners. But you want more Bobby Labontes and Matt Kenseths. I haven't seen them in Victory Lane for a while. So which do you want - vanilla drivers or winners?
Posted by: Diane | May 13, 2008 1:01:59 PM
Daly,you are entitled to your thoughts.You might find one taker if any on that thought process though.I think you mentioned this same process a while back and got no support,nor will you this time.Seriously man,what makes you think the Nascar faithful or even new fans want to see the same old drab personalities in interviews and the follow the leader and save equipment mentality?As mentioned earlier,what made this sport popular was the old school hard charger attitudes and young raw talent types like the 18 or the 20.The fans want drama,be it on the track or in the interviews.Nascar wants that and needs it.That is what makes us want to read the sports,listen to the radio or check out opinions on blogs.That is what brings the fans to the next race and helps get the TV ratings up.....
I don't dislike your examples of the 17 or 43.But they do not make the sport grow.It's the 18 types,the 7 and 20 types.Then you have stories like the 28 or the 6 that are good because they are under-funded or under-rated and doing well.The 7 and his desire to do it like Elvis,his way.Hell give me someone like a Robert Pressley type battling the leaders to not go 3 laps down or a hot head like the 20 was or an aggresive mentality like the 18 is over the boring types that depend on their equipment to take them to victory rather than just driving the hell out of what they got.
The 18 is tops,for now.He is what Nascar feeds off of.They know it and will ride it as long as the fans are watching and waiting for his next move be it on the track or with a mike stuck in his nose.We love it and you know the "Winston" will be a show for sure........Rock on Kyle,but be wary and more respectful as you are heading toward the same deal your older bro got from another great personality in the sport,Spencer.And Nascar and I can't wait.........
Posted by: DJ | May 13, 2008 1:28:49 PM
Anyone who is willing to give up M&M's because of Kyle Busch has something seriously wrong with them! LOL
Can't stand him but he IS the KOTM unfortunately........
Posted by: KS 24-48 | May 13, 2008 1:56:06 PM
LOL - Hey, Daly's right guys! This is not what NASCAR needs.
It's what us fans need!
But, No Daly - burnouts are great. As long as whatever celebration they do is genuine, I don't care what it is.
Keith,
Maybe you remember a different Intimidator than I do.
Yeah, he had those traits...sometimes. 87% of the time he was what we're talking about here. Hell, I remember his radio transmission at TMS about Jr - "you tell that little son of a bitch he gets near me again, I'll wreck him." Heard it myself, about his own son and team. THAT's patience and maturity? Take off the rose coloreds, brotha' - I got some big ass gold ones for ya!
And please don't start with the "man off the track" stuff...
Posted by: the6and9 | May 13, 2008 2:10:28 PM
"Earnhardt had the patience to bring a 10th or 15th place car to a 5th place finish (without whining like a little girl on the radio all night)."
LOL - that's because he wasn't afraid to punt the nine other cars in front of him!
sorry. I just couldn't resist!
Posted by: the6and9 | May 13, 2008 2:13:29 PM
6&9,
See, you're one of the #3 non fans, but, even you, would have gotten a wave and a smile as you boo'ed.
That was just family love. If he hadn't been family, he wouldn't have gotten the warning.
Posted by: Keith | May 13, 2008 3:01:44 PM
Burnouts are BORING. You want a genuine celebration, then they should do a simple victory lap and then go to victory lane - act like you've been there before.
Diane, that Labonte and Kenseth haven't won lately doesn't mean they're not capable of it. My point is that the drivers the sport needs are drivers who don't draw attention to themselves but simply race.
DJ, you missed the point - fans want to see racers race, but the sport is also about PROFESSIONALISM. The antics of Kyle Busch are anything but professional. It gets old fast; it means nothing; it's just cheap theatrics. Petty, David Pearson, Buddy Baker, Bobby Isaac, Harry Gant, they were all among the sport's best ambassadors and they had none of the flamboyance of a Curtis Turner or a Tim Richmond or a Kyle Busch. You don't need flamboyance to be good for the sport.
Posted by: Mike Daly | May 13, 2008 4:09:56 PM
Damn Daly...yes you do need flamboyance to keep the fans interested and being "professional" is no where near what the fans want to see.Are you serious?Let's face it...the racing is and has been boring for the most part for a while and maybe really has been the whole time.Yes, you get good racing at times but it's usually not the entire race unless it is Daytona or Dega or Bristol.The race at Darlington was a snoozer.I was there.Sooooo....How do you counter that?With brash personalities,guys being agressive on the track...it has nothing to do with professionalism.This isn't golf Mike.Come on man,do you honestly believe anyone cares about what you are saying?Man,I'm with you an Kyle's antics.I'm not a fan and can't wait untill he punts the 7 or 20 or anyone that has a set.His time is coming and that my friend is why I don't mind his antics right now.You are way off on this one.........
Posted by: DJ | May 13, 2008 5:50:16 PM
I think flamboyant and controversial is cool - like Tony said last year, WWF.
Now I'll duck before the flames get me lol!
Posted by: JWSmoke | May 13, 2008 6:35:19 PM
Naw, Chief - I liked the old man! I's just messin' with ya.
IMO - while everyone can (and will) debate comparisons on style and whatnot, here is the hard honest truth: When Dale was racing, he was THE show. No question about that. Didn't matter the race, didn't matter the venue - he was THE show.
Also - the sport needs a little entertainment as well. Frankly, sometimes racing can be boring. Don't know if you've noticed.
Since his death, there hasn't been that ONE driver that puts on THE show for every single lap. There have been sparks here and there, little teasers, if you will...but not until this season has somebody stepped up and put the SHOW and ENTERTAINMENT back in a 500 mile race.
I don't know how long it will last, but...there is that.
Daly - burnouts are boring? lol - yep. The smell of burning rubber, the sound of screamin' asphalt, the roar of a small block being racked, and the feel of the little bits of track and tire hittin' your face if stand close enough to the fence...yeah, that's boring alright.
Boring for me is watching Jeff Burton win!
Posted by: the6and9 | May 13, 2008 7:05:28 PM
DJ, yes I am serious because the sport ran quite nicely without flamboyant showoffs and flamboyance gets boring fast. Having brash personalities does nothing for the racing; it's a band-aid for the sport's real problems.
"Do you honestly think anyone cares what you are saying?" Hey, you responded, didn't you?
What makes you think a sport without flamboyant or brash personalities will suffer? Not having brash personalities is not why NASCAR attendence and TV ratings have dropped. A sport with PROFESSIONALS who conduct themselves quietly - who leave their talking to racing for the win - will thrive all the same as a sport choking on personality.
Posted by: Mike Daly | May 13, 2008 7:06:03 PM
the6and9, yes burnouts are boring. The racing is about RACING, not burnouts. Give me substance in a sport, not cheap theatrics.
Posted by: Mike Daly | May 13, 2008 7:07:17 PM
"Also - the sport needs a little entertainment as well. Frankly, sometimes racing can be boring. Don't know if you've noticed."
...was for Daly and should have been the last line of my comment. Sorry for the cornfusion.
Posted by: the6and9 | May 13, 2008 7:09:03 PM
Daly - lol...that's cool, man.
I just never figured boring for entertaing before...guess I was wrong! lol...
Posted by: the6and9 | May 13, 2008 7:11:11 PM
You're right on every point, but you omitted the fact that he is a worthless punk.
Posted by: Joe | May 13, 2008 7:14:47 PM
WOW!! You see? My point is clear. At this time last year we were digging for things to talk about and most of it focused around Junior leaving DEI.
Now we are talking about what is happening on the track. I LOVE IT!!!
Though 6and9 I still love seeing the Burton's Martin's and others that appear "boring" win. It mixes things up!!
Posted by: Mark Young | May 13, 2008 8:54:09 PM
Takes all kinds, brother!
Posted by: the6and9 | May 13, 2008 9:49:50 PM
kyle is kicking jr as every week, and people are hating it, they suck up to jr,but there is nothing jr can do about it,the boy just dont have it
Posted by: larry | May 13, 2008 9:52:25 PM
larry,
Are you a genuine moron or do you really have to work hard to be so stupid?
Posted by: Keith | May 13, 2008 10:04:28 PM
I would rather my driver race like he stole it than ride around gaining points. "Hey Guys, Lets all get in a straight line and ride around for 500 miles". Boy that sure makes Talladega fun.
Posted by: Graceann | May 13, 2008 10:15:53 PM
Larry Larry Larry.......He doesn't have it?
He is third in points, has nearly as many top 10's already this that he did all of last year. Oh and he is the highest ranked Hendrick driver.....doesn't have it?
Time to stay away from the payote pardna.
Posted by: Mark Young | May 13, 2008 10:25:29 PM
Mark Y.
Larry Larry Larry......He doesn't have it?
I don't know where larry gets his info.
regarding Dale Jr, maybe, he should do some
research on Jr. He evidently is an Earnhardt
hater from his remarks. Jr. wants to be
recognized for himself, he's had a lot of
pressure put on him because of the Earnhardt
name.
Keith
Good post, good points.
Posted by: Dottie | May 14, 2008 12:33:49 AM
Mature, Big E?....I have personally heard him on the scanner carrying on like a child about how bad his car was, threatening to put it in the wall, or threatening to wreck somebody else, once, his own teammate, if they didn't quit RACING him.......that is not the word he used but that his what they were doing, racing. Every other word was MF and GD, complaing the whole time if he was not up front, in the lead. Maturity, BAH HUMBUG. The only maturity he showed was in age.
Posted by: 9fanatic | May 14, 2008 6:25:04 AM
9fanatic: I think the word is passion, Big E had Passion for the sport,
Posted by: Graceann | May 14, 2008 7:04:44 AM
9fanatic,
You personally heard him? Wow, you must be special. And, like every other #3 detractor, selective hearing seems to always come into play.
Posted by: Keith | May 14, 2008 9:48:38 AM
Mark,
That was little larry, not to be confused with big Larry.
Little larry posts when school lets out and only ever says one thing. Big Larry, who may or may not be big, posts on topic.
Posted by: Keith | May 14, 2008 10:32:15 AM
Who gives a rat how the drivers and teams communicate on their radios and what they sound like? I would never draw a conclusion about what kind of person one of them is based on their radio chatter, given what all they're TRYING TO DO that requires the radio comms in the first place. If someone listened to me in my car while driving (sitting) in Seattle-area traffic and based their assessment of my character on that, they'd really be off-target as I'd venture ot say I'm pretty mature. Sounding off in my car is a way to relieve stress--might it not be the same for the drivers during a race?
Kyle Busch is indeed King of the Mountain and people might think he's a punk, but after three trips to Victory Lane this year, he's far from worthless. ;)
Posted by: Kari | May 14, 2008 3:15:02 PM
Well folks, I'm off to the high desert of CA for a month of good ol' Army games....sucks that I was just getting started here but I will be back.
I agree about little larry; never anything constructive to say; what gives dude?
After the million words I have dedicated to Kyle Busch conversation I am from this point forward putting it this way: he is NASCARs necessary evil. KOTM? For right now, it appears so.
Take it easy guys.
Posted by: Joe | May 14, 2008 5:33:15 PM
Then little larry should stay the f ck in school, or at least get a tutor because, his spelling and grammar SUCK!
Posted by: the6and9 | May 14, 2008 6:10:06 PM
Hey Joe,
NTC? Yuck. Truly the armpit of California!
Posted by: Kari | May 14, 2008 6:39:11 PM
Graceann and Keith, yes mam, and yes sir, I did.........over my scanner sitting on top of our motorhome at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Sr. told Richard Childress to "tell Mike Skinner to quit racing him like he was..which was 'racin'.... or I'm going to put the 'm fer' in the wall, I'm going to take him out." That was just one instance. Another one was at Atlanta and Sr. was crying about his car, "the mfing seat is sliding back and forth all over the car, it has to be fixed, never mind, I'll just put this mother frrrrrrr in the wall". This is just two sentences out of Sr's, coversations that I remember out of 10 years of going to Atlanta. There were many others. Sr.was not the only one by any means, they were all doing it. Maybe my post sounded like I was saying Sr. had the dirtest mouth I ever heard, and that I had a 'thing' against dirty language, that is not the case. I have offended people by my language lots of times. And for sure will again. What I was trying to say was, ....just because Kyle is having a fit in his car doesn't mean he is less mature than Sr., it just means he is younger. If by some chance you think I have a problem with language...........just try me. I DO NOT HAVE VIRGIN EARS, or a virgin mouth, and never will. I like to hear the drivers 'tell it like it is', just don't try to make Sr., 'the Saint he ain't.' I am also trying to do better on my own language. Just because I need to, I curse too much. But I absolutely do not judge the drivers by that, in fact I like it.
Posted by: 9fanatic | May 14, 2008 9:04:55 PM
9fanatic -
lol - my favorite of all time is what Jr had to say about gettin' wrecked in turn 2 @ Texas by Shawna Robinson.
It wasn't pretty - and I was rolling!
2nd runner-up was the following year and JG was having a shitty day. I'm scanning channels and I hear that irritating nasally voice say "did I just get passed by f cking Derrick Cope? Was that for position?" Priceless!
Posted by: the6and9 | May 14, 2008 11:57:43 PM
LOL! I'll bet he thought he was having a nightmare!
Posted by: 9fanatic | May 15, 2008 6:29:56 AM
That sounds like Kasey last year and this year: "Is the 38 for position???" "Is the 6 for position???" Spotter: "Yeeeeeeeeep."
Posted by: Kari | May 15, 2008 11:18:15 AM
Hey Keith,
Thanks.
Hey Mark, Yes, he is KOTM.
Someone bashed on Kenny Wallace and that's just not right. How could the term "failure" apply to Kenny.
At one time Steve Alford was credited for being the worst player in the NBA. He replied something to the effect of , hey there are only 400 players in the league. So, he could live with being the 400th best player.. in the world.
Kenny has made a living doing what he loves to do. He has also been called upon to drive in relief for some owners who evaluated top talent.
To bash any Kenny is just not cool.
Posted by: Larry | May 15, 2008 8:12:45 PM
"you killed Kenny...you bastards!"
Posted by: the6and9 | May 16, 2008 1:41:46 AM
