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Nascar and Racing

Busch Bond Can Lead to Broken Records

Posted Mar 24, 2009 2:40PM By Holly Cain (RSS feed)

Filed Under: Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Michael Waltrip, Penske Racing, Sprint Cup, Joe Gibbs Racing

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Gaye Busch has a very reasonable explanation for the simultaneous success of both her sons -- NASCAR's reigning super siblings Kurt and Kyle.

"We did everything as a family when they were growing up," Gaye Busch. "We just did things together."

And they still are. Only now the Busch family gatherings are happening every week in victory lane.

With his dominating performance Sunday at Bristol, Tenn., Kyle Busch (pictured above left) has now visited victory lane every week of the season with wins in each of NASCAR's three premier series.

He and older brother Kurt (above right) have won the last three Sprint Cup races. And NASCAR old-schoolers, you better sit down for this: If this pace keeps up, the Busch brothers could challenge the Allisons (94 wins) and the Waltrips (88) to become the winningest sibling combination in NASCAR history.

It's not as far-fetched as it may seem. They're already two-thirds of the way there in only five years of trying together.

Unlike the top of the win list with brothers Bobby (84 wins) and Donnie Allison (11 wins) or Darrell (88 wins) and Michael Waltrip (four wins), the Busch brothers results are more evenly distributed. Kurt, the 2004 Cup champion, has 19, while Kyle added his 14th Sunday at Bristol.

Kurt, who drives the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge, joked after winning at Atlanta earlier this month that he was finally "holding up his end" of the brotherly bargain. He may need to crank it up another notch to match his brother's winning tear. But if they can both maintain multiple win seasons, they have a great shot at re-writing the record book.

This is the fifth year both Buschs have been competing in the Sprint Cup Series, and they've won 21 races in that time (Kurt had 12 victories before Kyle's rookie year). Even using conservative projections, if they combined for an average of five wins a year for the next 15 years they'd be within one victory of the Allisons' mark.

They've both won races every year they've been competing together.

Factor in Kyle's current winning pace in the No. 18 M&Ms Toyota and it becomes a realistic expectation.

And remember, Kurt is only 30 years old. Kyle is 23.

"I'm just pinching myself," Gaye Busch said by telephone from her home outside Charlotte, N.C. "I told Kyle last year, let's just not wake up. It is so special and I hope they con continue what they're doing. I don't know how any parent could be prouder."

These family ties are strong, competition-tested as kids playing Candyland, baseball and then as precocious teenagers behind the wheel of race cars. When one does well, the other answers and it's always been like that.

They were both standout baseball players growing up in Las Vegas and played the same position: catcher, both highly-regarded for a rocket arm to second base. In high school they both got their best grades in science, and both considered physics their favorite subject.

When it came to careers, they have enjoyed similarly successful paths, winning early and often.

Latest NASCAR Images

    ** FILE ** In this Sept. 19, 2008, file photo, Denny Hamlin, left, and teammate Kyle Busch talk in the garage during practice for a NASCAR auto race at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del. Busch had to settle for second place, behind Busch, on Sunday, March 22, at Bristol. (AP Photo/Russ Hamilton Jr., File)

    AP

    BRISTOL, TN - MARCH 22: Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 DuPont Chevrolet, leads Martin Truex Jr., driver of the Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet and Scott Speed, driver of the #82 Red Bull Toyota, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on March 22, 2009 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Jeff Gordon;Martin Truex Jr.;Scott Speed

    Getty Images for NASCAR

    Kyle Busch (18) leads Kevin Harvick (29) during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Food City 500 auto race in Bristol, Tenn., Sunday, March 22, 2009. Busch won the race. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

    AP

    Kyle Busch leads the field just after taking the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Food City 500 auto race in Bristol, Tenn., Sunday, March 22, 2009. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

    AP

    BRISTOL, TN - MARCH 22: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Snickers Toyota, celebrates winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on March 22, 2009 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Kyle Busch

    Getty Images for NASCAR

    BRISTOL, TN - MARCH 22: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Snickers Toyota, does a burnout after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on March 22, 2009 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Kyle Busch

    Getty Images for NASCAR

    BRISTOL, TN - MARCH 22: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Snickers Toyota, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on March 22, 2009 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Kyle Busch

    Getty Images for NASCAR

    BRISTOL, TN - MARCH 22: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Snickers Toyota, races Joey Logano, driver of the #20 Home Depot Toyota, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on March 22, 2009 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Kyle Busch;Joey Logano

    Getty Images for NASCAR

    BRISTOL, TN - MARCH 22: Kyle Busch (2L), driver of the #18 Snickers Toyota, poses with his girlfriend Samantha Sarcinella (3L) and crew in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on March 22, 2009 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Kyle Busch;Samantha Sarcinella

    Getty Images for NASCAR

    BRISTOL, TN - MARCH 22: Kyle Busch (L), driver of the #18 Snickers Toyota, celebrates with his crew in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on March 22, 2009 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Kyle Busch

    Getty Images for NASCAR


This month at Las Vegas, they became the first brother combination to sweep the front row in qualifying since 2000. Twice they've won back-to-back races.

They're on a string of three consecutive wins right now, in alternating order, which means Kurt's due next -- and he is a former winner at Sunday's stop, Martinsville, Va.

Only one set of brothers, Terry (1984, 1996) and Bobby (2000) Labonte, have won Cup championships.

Kyle was well on his way to making the tandem a two-title clan when he was derailed during the Chase last year -- his eight wins still a series best. Conversely, 2008 was Kurt's worst championship showing (18th) since his rookie year and he still won a race.

Both are early championship contenders this year -- accounting for more than half the wins through five races. Kurt is second to Jeff Gordon in the championship standings, 76 points back. Kyle is fourth, 85 points out.
And with the exception of a dust-up in the All-Star race at Chalotte two years ago, the Buschs have been good sports on-track and genuinely pleased for one another's success.

Kyle was the first to his big brother's car with congratulations when Kurt clinched the 2004 championship. Kurt's been especially busy stopping by victory lane to pat Kyle's back.

And for now, at least, they are both each other's greatest cheerleader. And keenest competition.

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