by Ron Fleshman  |  About The Author   |  Discuss

It brought back memories. It seemed like the finish was pre-ordained for some reason. It’s been that way all year. If there has been one dominant driver in this year of 2008, it’s Kyle Busch. He’s won in all the NASCAR series and has been a player when he didn’t win. If there was any driver who got fired and came out smelling like a rose, it’s the little Busch.

They call him “Rowdy,” and that’s a very good name for him. He makes moves that defy any law of physics and makes them work. Oh, not all of the time, but often enough that it makes your jaw drop and say things that I can’t print here. He slides up in front of cars where there doesn’t appear to be room for him to slide up and makes it work. He just amazes me every time I watch him.

Of course, it doesn’t always work. There was the truck race at Martinsville. You remember that one? He knocked Johnny Benson around and it wasn’t very popular. That’s just one of many times that he has been described as “reckless” and a “loose cannon.” But no one can deny that the kid can drive a race car. He may be lucky and he may be driving on the edgy, but no doubt he is “Rowdy.” That’s what he is.

In a year when many of us had written off 2008 as another Hendrick Motorsports benefit, Busch as single-handedly put Toyota on the map in the Sprint Cup Series. The hated foreign manufacturer Toyota, you understand. He sits second in the points race behind Jeff Burton, and overshadows reigning champ Jimmie Johnson, five-time champion Jeff Gordon, and the latest darling of the sport, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. So far. It’s funny that fans, when asked to name a driver that reminds them of the late Dale Earnhardt, Sr., name Busch over his own son, unless they are member of the green-clad “Junior Nation” that used to be all red in years past. That has to be a major accomplishment.

It’s early in the season, and racing being what it is, this could all change by Richmond, but for now, it’s safe for this writer to ordain “Rowdy” as a genuine superstar. Sure, Carl Edwards is another contender, and maybe even guys like Travis Kvapil and David Ragan are knocking at the door, but Busch has become the latest driver to hate for his winning ways. But for some reason, I think that “Rowdy” will be there all year. He may not be beloved like some others, but he’ll be there every race. It’s Toyota’s gain and Chevrolet’s loss. And I imagine that’s discussed a lot these days.

You can contact Ron at ron.fleshman@verizon.net

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