NASCAR Needs More like Kyle Busch

NASCAR fans are a passionate a group as you will find in any sport anywhere. Their opinions vary but the thing they all have in common is the passion in which they are delivered. They can also be unreasonable. Very much like most of us taxpayers who hate to pay taxes but demand more services. In a word, unreasonable.

For years I’ve heard many in the fan base criticize the sport’s biggest stars such as Jimmie Johnson as plain as vanilla. Where are the “characters” of NASCAR which made this sport interesting? Now we’re subjected to PR trained athletes giving rehearsed and practiced replies, avoiding controversy at all cost.

Look, I completely understand where the drivers and teams are coming from. Who wants to disappoint their sponsors who are writing lots of zero’s on their checks to support these teams. Isn’t it best to not want to upset the apple cart? But media and fans alike are always searching for some color outside of that track.

Enter Kyle Busch. I don’t think many people can question either his talent or his will to win. I thought a couple season ago after he captured the 2015 NASCAR Cup Championship he was poised to become the sports next Jimmie Johnson/Jeff Gordon. Perhaps he had the same thoughts.

I guess that’s where the confusion begins with me. After crying for years about vanilla and bland racing personalities, we have Kyle with his authentic response, especially after a near loss. Clearly Sunday night the 18 car was the best on the track at mile 600. The problem was he wasn’t the first to cross the finish line due to some great race strategy by Austin Dillon and his #3 team. Kyle wasn’t happy.

The sport’s most popular personality, the late great Dale Earnhardt, had a certain connection to fans. I think a lot of that had to do with the way he acted much like you and I. Ya think Dale would have been all nicety nice after losing a race where he felt he had the best car? Of course not and we fans would have ate up his response. All of us lose are tempers on occasion especially when we feel we’ve been wronged or missed out on a great opportunity. That’s the connection Dale had with us common folk.

I’m not in any way implying that Kyle Busch is Dale Earnhardt. Dale was as unique as a fingerprint. I think it’s great for the sport to have a driver willing to throw away all the horse crap rehearsed responses and show us how he really feels. I think it’s good for the sport.

I know the naysayers will argue that he’s rude and he’s taking it out on people who had nothing to do with what’s upsetting him. While that all may be true, isn’t it refreshing to see a driver react in much the same way that you or I may react? He’s frustrated at not being able to take a checkered flag this season and he’s showing a legitimate reaction to that frustration.

I’ve seen Kyle in the garage enough to know that he’s a good guy. I once saw him, while recuperating from a broken leg at Daytona, signing autographs, posing for photos and talking to fans as he hobbled through the garage area. I’m not one who is going to pile on Kyle for reacting much like many of us might have. In fact I think the sport needs more of it.

Thanks for reading. Listen to WTBQ radio on Monday and Friday mornings at 8:45 as I join Frank, Taylor and the Morning Show gang to discuss all the current happenings in NASCAR. 1110AM 93.5FM or online at WTBQ.COM. You can also follow me on twitter @JimLaplante