Kyle’s Corner (FYI) Busch drives like a rookie in the last lap at Daytona

July 7, 11:15 AMAutomotive ExaminerKyle Busch

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AP Photo / John Raoux

Kyle Busch has had difficulty finishing races this season. It could be a
cut tire or hooking up with other cars late in a race as happened with 
Tony Stewart at the Daytona International Speedway.

And although Busch has won some races convincingly, it can be said that
he drove like a Rookie in the last lap at Daytona. After passing Tony Stewart
on the top of the track and then driving down low, Busch should have stayed
low on the inner line thus not allowing Stewart to get the nose of his car on
the inside thus destabilizing Busch’s car.

Rather than trying to block Steward, Busch should have just drove his car for
all it was worth! If Steward would have passed him on the outside for the win,
so be it! Busch would have collected second (or possibly even first) place points
rather than finishing 14th.

Regarding his victory, Stewart said, “I just don’t like it to end that way.
You know, you work hard to get to this level and you don’t want to see races
decided by guys wrecking coming to the finish line. That’s not what it’s about.
Maybe I am being hard on myself, I don’t know. But I just don’t like the way
that ended up.”

There have been times when Busch has gone out in a race and taken a lead
early. More experienced drivers have hung back in the top five and taken
the lead with say 20 or even 10 laps to go in a race. If possible, Busch should
have tried to take the lead at Daytona with 10 laps to go rather than with two
laps remaining! I think a more steady approach would allow him to settle into
a better driving rhythm and may well change his luck.

Another possible factor in Busch “coming up short” in some races might be
his running multiple races in a short period of time or even in the same day.
Fatigue could be showing up late in some of Busch’s races. This is all the
more reason to maintain a steady driving rhythm (as the old saying goes:
Pace is the race!).

Busch has shown that he is a great race car drive - he just has to let himself
be one all the time!

Kyle Busch is the author of “Drive the Best for the Price…” He
welcomes your comments or car questions at his auto web site:
www.DriveTheBestBook.com.

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