Should Busch, his team, and his sponsor focus more on racing in the cup series? (Getty Images)
Kyle Busch and the officials over at Joe Gibbs racing have a lot to be concerned with right now. With six races left until the chase begins Kyle sits 14th in the points, 82 markers behind 12th place and the last spot in this year’s chase for the championship.
While Kyle is certainly capable of making those points up, but the upcoming tracks have not exactly been all that kind to Kyle. His best chances at scoring maximum points will be at Watkins Glen, Bristol Motor Speedway, and Atlanta Motor Speedway. For the other races Kyle must insure he does not lose further ground.
When we combine his current standings with his epic collapse in the first two races of last year’s chase, we must start to wonder is Kyle’s attention split between too many pursuits.
Over the last two seasons Kyle has run 132 times in all three of the National NASCAR tours. At some point both physical and mental fatigue will set in. Last year it happened in the chase, this year it has happened in July. Kyle has three cup wins and sits outside the chase, and will now face an uphill battle to get his team back into the chase.
While winning 20 races each season, and locking up a Nationwide series title are important accolades for driver and team, one would think winning a Cup title would be the ultimate goal. However to win a cup title first one must qualify for the chase. If these other pursuits are stealing away Kyle’s focus, or draining his physical energy and mental ability Joe Gibbs Racing must put an end to them.
While is great for the fans to see Kyle running flat out for the win in the Truck series, does that really add to Kyle’s or JGR’s ultimate goal of winning a cup title? Does dominating the Nationwide series week in and out help this team win a Sprint Cup championship?
At a sponsorship price tag off over 20 million dollars shouldn’t Kyle’s and JGR’s focus be on the cup series? If Kyle is going to run all these other races should the Mars Candy company get a discount on the price of sponsoring Kyle? Kyle should be a lock for the chase, and the sponsor defiantly wants to see their car in the chase. If Kyle’s extra racing schedule robs them of that opportunity, Kyle’s 2010 schedule should be dramatically decreased. Granted if he does win the 2009 Nationwide series title that he commitment to that series will be far less in the years to come.
Other Kyle Busch Stories:
• Kyle Busch’s no win situation
• Why does Kyle Busch need to steal other’s glory?
• Why I am becoming a big Kyle Busch fan
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