Daniel Suarez, driver of the #19 ARRIS Toyota, talks with Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 NOS Energy Drink Toyota, after the NASCAR Xfinity Series Boyd Gaming 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 5, 2016 Photo – Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images
Over the last several years, there’s one rally cry from some fans that has come clearly into focus. They don’t enjoy watching NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers winning XFINITY Series races. They especially don’t enjoy watching one Sprint Cup Series driver dominating the mid tier series races – that driver is Kyle Busch.
At Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday afternoon, Busch led all but one lap of the Boyd Gaming 300 on his way to victory, finally fulfilling his dream of winning at his home track in front of his family and friends. For them, Kyle Busch is the reason they came to the track to watch the XFINITY Series race – to see the driver they’ve watch grow from a brash youngster to a seasoned Sprint Cup Series champion.
“It’s awesome that they have always supported racing out here in Vegas,” says Busch. “Fans have always supported the Bullring and then fans that always come out here to Las Vegas Motor Speedway. I love it and wouldn’t want to be doing anything else, so I’m glad they are out here supporting all of us, including myself and hopefully they’re buying some NOS here tonight.”
The win was the first XFINITY Series victory for Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota at the 1.5-mile track, which is the second week in a row for all three after also winning Atlanta last weekend. With this victory, Toyota drivers have now won at all oval tracks on the XFINITY Series circuit and Busch has extended his series record with 78 career wins and 16,084 total career laps led.
Although, Busch dominated this race, what some fail to see is that Busch has raced in front of his home town crowd several times before and did not win until now. He’s come close three times, finishing second in 2007, 2013 and 2014. Take a closer look at how difficult it’s been for Busch to win at his home track over the last ten-plus years.
XFINITY Series Results at Las Vegas – Kyle Busch
2003 – Busch ran a part-time schedule and did not race at Las Vegas
2004 – Started tenth – Finished 15th
2005 – Started third – Finished 11th
2006 – Started 13th – Finished 19th
2007 – Started 20th – Finished second
2008 – Started third – Finished 31st
2009 – Started fifth – Finished 39th
2010 – Started fifth – Finished 16th
2011 – Started fifth – Finished 38th
2012 – Started 20th – Finished 33rd
2013 – Started 23rd – Finished second
2014 – Started seventh – Finished second
2015 – Busch did not race at Las Vegas due to his injuries from Daytona
2016 – Started first – Finished first
For Busch, crossing the finish line in first place at Las Vegas means that he can now cross off one more goal on his bucket list . His celebration of that accomplishment is brief though, because Busch is already thinking about the next goal on his list. Busch makes it clear his bucket list is a work in progress and he’s not done yet.
“Certainly it was really cool to have the opportunity to win here,” adds Busch. “I’ve had many opportunities in the past or have come up short and haven’t quite had the day we’ve needed to get it done.
“Today was pretty special to finally get a win here in my hometown and check that off the list. Really excited about that and being able to accomplish that and one last that is on the list is Watkins Glen and before that we have many more. Next week is another one we want to go out there and try to score a victory.”
That’s not good news for some fans. But, for some of the younger drivers, it’s a golden opportunity for as long as Busch continues to race. Many young drivers admire and recognize Busch’s talent. They want to learn from him to advance their own career. Fortunately for them, Busch is a willing mentor and has spent a lot of time answering their questions off the track and showing them how it’s done on the track.
“Daniel (Suarez) is one of the guys that probably calls me, talks to me more than any of the other drivers I’ve helped come up through the ranks,” says Busch. “He always wants to learn, always wants to get better, always wants to get better and know what he’s missing in order to be better. I give him an A for effort, he certainly does everything he’s supposed to do to try to get better.
“He’s obviously done a good job. I think one of the things that I think is most impressive if I remember back to the restart there, he fell back to maybe fourth or fifth and then mustard his way back up to second and chased me down. He certainly had some good speed and did a good job passing race cars to get to second and then again having to deal with lapped traffic. A-plus for effort, for sure.”
With his teammates, Daniel Suarez and Erik Jones finishing second and third, it seems clear they both have tremendous talent and are learning from the best in the business – the race winner Kyle Busch. So while Busch continues to make history, the good news – dependent on your perspective – is there’s more great racing to come for many years ahead from the ranks of Joe Gibbs Racing.
Rivalries have been a part of NASCAR history and that won’t end any time soon. The fact of the matter is that Busch fans will continue to enjoy the success of their driver, while the others spend their time unhappy and complaining, jealously and anxiously awaiting the day Busch decides to retire.
Perspective is everything, and having a winning perspective is what every competitor wants. Kyle Busch has that and when considering if winning the XFINITY Series race at Las Vegas tops the list as special, he’s still thinking of the next race and his next goal.
“No, probably not. I think this race is a big one, but I’d have to put it right up there with the Brickyard and being able to win at the Brickyard last year with Chris (Gayle, crew chief) and my guys with the 54 car, but also to sweep that weekend and win the Cup race the next day, that was a little bit sweeter and so much cooler. Maybe then this one, unless I win tomorrow and maybe we’ll talk about it again and see which one is cooler.”
Of course, this depends on your perspective, but many of us are watching NASCAR history in the making and mentoring the future stars of NASCAR seems a perfect fit for Kyle Busch.