Limits can’t stop Kyle Busch; The driver comments on his NASCAR Truck Series career after setting the all-time win record of 52
At age 16, Kyle Busch began competing in the NASCAR Truck Series. His debut came in the No. 99 Ford for Roush Racing. That offered a 9th place finish at Indianapolis Raceway Park.
In his next chance, he was leading at Chicago Motor Speedway. With just 12 laps to go, he ran out of fuel.
In 2001, Kyle Busch was fastest in the practice rounds at California Speedway. Kyle Busch was informed shortly after that he would not be allowed to compete in the race. The formerly known CART FedEx Championship Series was at the track on the same weekend. It’s race was sponsored by Marlboro cigarettes.
Busch was not allowed to compete due to the Master Settlement Agreement of 1998. That law prohibits people under the age of 18 from competing in events sponsored by Tobacco companies.
For 2002, NASCAR raised the minimum age to 18. At this time, Winston was the entitlement sponsor of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series.
Kyle Busch has won almost everywhere
Kyle Busch dominates in the NASCAR Truck Series. With the Atlanta Motor Speedway win he now sits at the top of the board in the all-time wins category.
However, he hasn’t won at all the tracks on the schedule. Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, Gateway Motorsports Park and Eldora Speedway.
“I’ve never won at them because I’ve never started at them. It’s hard to do that if you don’t go.”
“I don’t anticipate going at the current moment. It’s just the schedule doesn’t work.”
The race in Canada is a playoff race for the NASCAR Truck Series. Per the rules, Kyle Busch is not allowed to compete in that one.
“Eldora’s a dirt race. I’m not interested in that.”
“Gateway, I’m busy somewhere else. It just doesn’t work for me.”
Kyle Busch comments on setting the all-time NASCAR Truck Series wins record
“It’s a great accomplishment. But, my aspirations aren’t to go out there and set records. My aspirations are to go out there and win every single race.”
“I’ve started 1,000 races and I’ve only won 190-something of them. There’s been way more disappointments than there’s been thrills of victory.”
“It’s big. It will be way bigger, years down the road once I’m all said and done. Maybe the record will hold.”
Kyle Busch has now spent two-decades behind the wheel of a NASCAR Truck Series machine. All the while, he’s had his full-time job in the NASCAR Cup Series.
“As much as Hornaday and I couldn’t stand each other and didn’t like each other back in the day it was a thrill to race against him. To beat him, to lose to him.”
“Jack Sprague, Mike Skinner, Todd Bodine and all the greats that I ran against. The list goes on of all the guys that I’ve been able to race against. And it’s been fun to do.”
Before KBM, Kyle Busch ran for Billy Ballew Motorsports.
“We had four trucks. We ran Billy broke, too many times over again. He kept digging and figuring out how to get us to the next race.”
Kyle Busch Motorsports
“If we don’t win, there’s 60 people without jobs. Even though he’s only running 5 races a year he’s helping us do that. He’s keeping those people employed and their families fed. That’s super important,” crew chief Rudy Fugle said.
NASCAR has worked hard on ‘the Kyle Busch rule’. A rule of that name doesn’t actually exist. But, when NASCAR limited MENCS from competing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Truck Series we all know exactly what to call said rule.
Related: NASCAR places further limits on NASCAR Cup Series drivers in lower series divisions for 2019
Despite the increase in limits, KBM continues to dominate and Kyle Busch continues to set records.
“The other thing to that is that I’m limited in my starts. I’m not allowed to go to tests. We have to depend on those other drivers to go to these tests and work on our trucks to make them better and everything else.”
“The rules keep clamping down on us harder and harder because of this one individual.”
KBM offers a lot of opportunity for young talent. Busch has stated multiple times, that if that rule goes to zero and he’s not allowed to drive his own truck then he’d shut down his truck team.
Todd Gilliland, Harrison Burton, Christian Eckes, Chandler Smith and Raphael Lessard will all get a chance in KBM machines in 2019.
“They want to make it. If you want to be a star in this sport then they better perform in the KBM stuff. Cause if you don’t, I’m sorry man there’s not much left for you.”
More
Atlanta Truck Race Results: February 23, 2019
Kyle Busch is planning a retirement from the NASCAR Xfinity Series
Links
Kyle Busch | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Atlanta Motor Speedway | NASCAR
