Kyle Busch 200th NASCAR Victory Fast Facts & Quotes
Statistical Overview:
Kyle Busch has earned 200 wins across NASCAR’s three national series — 53 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS), 94 NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) and 53 NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series (NGOTS).
Busch has won 179 of those victories in a Toyota — 49 MENCS, 83 NXS and 47 NGOTS.
Busch has made a combined 998 starts in three NASCAR national series — 503 MENCS, 348 NXS and 147 NGOTS.
Busch earned Toyota’s first MENCS win at Atlanta Motor Speedway in March 2008 driving the No. 18 Snickers Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Busch captured Toyota’s first MENCS championship in 2015.
Kyle Busch, No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
You finally did it. It’s complete. How does 200 feel?
“Feels just like number one. Feels just like yesterday. Man, that was such an awesome racecar. I mean, dang. This Interstate Batteries Camry was awesome today. I’m glad we put on a heck of a show for all these fans out here in California at Auto Club Speedway. It takes green to get in Victory Lane today. Today is St. Patty’s day. All these other guys were at a disadvantage. The Interstate Batteries Green Machine was flying today. Just awesome. Just awesome. To win 200, I mean, whatever it means, it means a lot to me. It means a lot to all my guys, everybody at Joe Gibbs Racing. You guys are all the best. Toyota, TRD. It’s an amazing opportunity to drive for Joe Gibbs. I cherish every minute of it, love it always. Just wish that we could keep it going, keep it going like this, running strong, running well, and winning these races.”
When that speeding penalty happened, what was going through your mind? Did you think your chances of winning this race and getting to 200 were maybe over?
Yeah, that thought certainly crosses your mind. I knew we had a great racecar. We had a great racecar all day long. We were fast. I wasn’t sure how well we were going to be able to come through the field, get back in traffic, get our way worked back up to the lead. Brad (Keselowski) was really fast that run, he was way out front. We were catching the 22 (Joey Logano), the 4 (Kevin Harvick). If it went green to the end, I wasn’t sure how it was going to play out. Sometimes you have to a little bit of luck on your side. Fortunately, we were in the Interstate Batteries green today with being St. Patty’s day. Cool to get all these guys in Victory Lane. To win my 200th race with Interstate Batteries, with Norm Miller (Interstate Batteries), Scott Miller (Interstate Batteries), everybody that does such an awesome job of supporting us since day one, the reason why Joe Gibbs Racing exists. It certainly is a monumental moment for all of us, including M&M’s, Skittles, Snickers. Maybe the stars aligned a little bit more perfectly today.”
Can you take us through the rebound from the speeding penalty to win today’s race?
“Well, we just had an awesome race car all day long. Adam Stevens (crew chief) and the boys never cease to amaze me and the way they’re able to work and the way they’re able to do things for me is pretty awesome. Just having a fast Interstate Batteries Camry and being able to come back through after our speeding penalty, I wasn’t sure if we were going to be able to get there and get it done, but once we got about four or five laps in on that last run we really charged through there and got to those guys and we were able to drive away. Just an awesome day for us. This is pretty cool to be able to come out here to California, a place where I remember getting sat out and then I remember winning my first Cup Series race and now to bookend it with 200 right here, it’s pretty awesome.”
What original goals did you have when you entered NASCAR?
“I think the original goal was just to get to NASCAR and then once I got here, it was to win a race. Once it was winning a race then it was about trying to sustain and being able to be a winner here and to be a champion here. To have the opportunities to continue down the line to be able to be successful each and every year and we’ve been doing that. We’ve only won one title, but certainly I feel like I have the best team out there right now and we just have to be able to do it all year long.”
What did your Mom say to you when she got to the car?
“Just that she couldn’t believe it and how she remembered number one here as well and the special night that was and the opportunity that was with me being able to win number one. To solidify that stance in NASCAR and to then be able to continue on and win 199 more of them and close it out with 200 here was pretty cool.”
Do you pay attention to various milestones other than this number 200 accomplishment?
“It’s something that I don’t necessarily pay attention to. As long as you’re successful and doing a good job and doing your job about what you know how to do and you’re winning those races then you’re going to be eclipsing a lot of milestones and certainly it’s been pretty awesome so far.”
Ed Laukes, group vice president, Toyota Division Marketing, Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) on the significance of Busch’s 200th career NASCAR victory:
“Kyle Busch is as special of a talent as this sport has ever seen. Winning his 200th career NASCAR race is an incredible accomplishment that this sport rarely sees. After over a decade of racing with Toyota, Kyle is innately linked to our brand and has more NASCAR wins in a Toyota than any other driver. Everyone at Toyota is proud of what Kyle has accomplished behind the wheel of Camrys, Tundras and even Supras. We look forward to celebrating many more milestones together!”
David Wilson, president, TRD, U.S.A. (Toyota Racing Development) on the significance of Busch’s 200th career NASCAR victory:
“Kyle Busch’s success behind the wheel of a race car is nothing short of impressive. His capability to compete and win at every level of NASCAR is what has brought him to this milestone accomplishment of 200 NASCAR victories. 179 of those wins have been behind the wheel of a Toyota with support from all of us at TRD. We’re so proud to have Kyle represent us week-in and week-out in all three of NASCAR’s national series.”
