Kyle Busch’s sudden and unexpected passing has left a huge void in the world of motorsports, and fans are heartbroken by the loss of a superstar. But if there’s one thing Busch would advise us, it’s “Stay Rowdy!”
Kyle Busch burst onto the NASCAR scene in 2001 when he began racing in the Craftsman Truck Series at the young age of just sixteen. The beginning was anything but mild.
Inadvertently, Busch became the reason why NASCAR raised its age limit. That new rule was imposed after Busch was declared ineligible for the truck series race at Fontana Speedway (CA). Why? Another race that weekend was sponsored by Marlboro cigarettes, and the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement barred individuals under 18 from competing in tobacco-sponsored events.
It was literally “off to the races” from there.
At the time of his passing, Busch sat ninth for most all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins (63 wins). He’s #1 for most all-time wins in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (102 wins), and he also holds the record for most all-time wins in the Truck Series (69 wins). Those 234 wins across NASCAR’s three main touring divisions are yet another all-time record.
There’s more. In 2010, he also set the record for most wins across the three series in a single season at 24. He won the NASCAR Cup Series championship two times, once in 2015 and again in 2019. He won the NASCAR Nationwide Series (now the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series) Championship in 2009. As the owner of Kyle Busch Motorsports, he is a seven-time championship owner in the Truck Series.
Courtesy Autoweek
Despite incredible success, Busch ruffled more than a few feathers on his way to the top. His aggressive driving style and brash attitude early in his career drew the ire of many fans and drivers alike.
I’m one who feels that the animosity became less about his own actions and more about the need for many sports fans to root against whoever is on top. And, as bad as it sounds, it’s fun to celebrate when that driver gets put into the wall, blows a tire, or loses an engine.
I also believe NASCAR was guilty of pushing “the Rowdy narrative,” using animosity as a marketing tool to draw people in. While Busch was no stranger to controversy and, at times, even seemed to revel in it, NASCAR milked that image for all it was worth.
It’s a crossover from what we’ve seen for years in pro wrestling. Without ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper, Hulk Hogan wouldn’t have become the biggest wrestling star in the world. And without ‘Rowdy’ Kyle Busch, NASCAR probably wouldn’t have the audience it has today.
Despite being painted as the NASCAR villain, people I know who had experience with Busch paint a totally different picture of him. Even at the height of his fame, Kyle Busch often made a yearly trek to my hometown to race in “the biggest short track event in America,” The Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway.
One acquaintance, the track announcer at Five Flags, shared a story on Facebook about an interaction he had with Kyle in 2017. Kyle won the Derby that year, and my friend used his announcer privilege to get his son into victory lane to meet him. He said that Kyle Busch took time to make that experience personal for his son. Later, each time Busch came to Five Flags, he was kind to him and his children.
Elsewhere, the host of a local radio morning show talked about how he personally saw Kyle Busch interact with fans during Snowball Derby festivities. Busch was super polite to everyone and signed everything he was asked to.
Sometimes, the public image can be a far cry from the man behind it. That’s the way it appears in Busch’s case.
Kyle Busch was an incredible sportsman, an icon in the sport. To say he’ll be missed is an understatement.
