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NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
SPENCER: Kyle, Throwback Driver
Kyle Busch sent out a verbal challenge to Dale Earnhardt Jr. last weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway...
Jimmy Spencer  |  Posted March 26, 2009   Charlotte, NC
Jimmy Spencer calls it like he sees it on SPEED. (Photo: SPEED)

NASCAR’s hottest driver took a Bristol race about as riveting as a golf match and turned it into a muted verbal assault on the sport’s most popular driver.

Kyle Busch sent out a verbal challenge to Dale Earnhardt Jr. last weekend at Bristol in a little charade that couldn’t have been more reminiscent of the good old days of racing. In a not-so-veiled jab at Dale Jr. (and possibly other NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers) during his winner’s post-race press conference, Kyle Busch said, “For me, I don't think I would enjoy having the most fans out there. I actually like the way I am, the role I portray. And I think that there's probably too much pressure on one guy's shoulders who doesn't seem to win very often.”

Kyle, who doesn’t care whether he’s Mr. Popular, most certainly was daring the underachievers to step up to the plate. Dale Jr. is under an enormous amount of pressure to perform at NASCAR’s most successful organization but hasn’t run well and neither have some of his fellow drivers. However, Kyle spanks the competition each week and if the kid is on the track, he is there to win. Plus, Kyle seems to relish the fact he consistently outruns and out-wins the driver who replaced him at Hendrick Motorsports.

I think it’s awesome for our sport that the fans so vehemently boo Kyle but I see more and more people rooting for him every weekend for the simple fact that he wins. People want to back a winner – it’s just the American way. Kyle’s fan base will continue to grow because the son-of-a-gun drives his ass off and takes no prisoners.

His challenge to his fellow drivers was phenomenal and reminded me of Cale Yarborough, Tim Richmond and Dale Earnhardt Sr. in his attitude. Fans can pull for “Shrub” because they can rest assured he’ll always give 100-percent behind the wheel. Kyle also reminds me of Darrell Waltrip in his confidence in calling out other drivers. DW could back up his mouth on the race track, as can Kyle. Watching guys like Kyle and DW race is so much better than watching some drivers who don’t care about anything but collecting a paycheck.

Despite Kyle stirring things up after the race, Bristol was about as exciting as a pro golf tournament. Is golf exciting? Hell no and neither was the Bristol race. A factor in this equation is the new car, which Busch publicly criticized when he won the first COT race at Bristol two years ago. He said the car “sucked” in Victory Lane that day and while NASCAR hasn’t made any wholesale changes to the COT, Busch has figured out how to drive it because he has no other alternative – NASCAR made the rules and he’s living by and adjusting to them.


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