NASCAR statisticians have some newly-released numbers that are guaranteed to get die-hard race fans talking.Those numbers concern the sport's top drivers and how many all-time combined wins they have across the three major racing series (Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Trucks).
At first glance, the list looks rather typical. The usual names – Petty, Allison, Yarborough, Pearson, Waltrip, etc., are on it. That's not surprising, given their prowess in the Cup Series, where they all earned most of their career triumphs.
But as you work your way down the list, one name and statistic hits you straight in the eyeballs like running head-on into the first turn at Darlington Raceway. We all know Richard Petty won 200 races (all Sprint Cup events) in his career. But look at who is No. 9 on the all-time combined wins list: Kyle Busch.
That's right, at just 24 years old, Busch is ALREADY the ninth-winningest driver in NASCAR annals with an incredible 56 combined victories across the Cup (16 wins), Nationwide (27) and Trucks (13) series.
By comparison:
* The late Dale Earnhardt, who is ranked No. 3 on the list, didn't reach 56 combined series wins until he was 39 years old.
* Fifth-ranked Mark Martin, who turned 50 years old earlier this year, didn't reach 56 combined wins until he also was 39 years old.
* Sixth-ranked Jeff Gordon didn't hit 56 combined wins until he was 28 years old.
The younger Busch brother's first career win in any of NASCAR's three pro series came in 2004 in the spring Nationwide Series race at Richmond, 12 days after he turned 19 years old.
Now, 56 wins later, that means KyBusch has averaged over nine combined wins per season across all three series since then.
What's more, Busch already has 14 wins this season: four in Cup, six in Nationwide and four others in Trucks – and there's still just under one-third of a season remaining in each series.
If Busch makes this year's Chase for the Sprint Cup, he'd likely be seeded either first or second with Mark Martin by virtue of both drivers leading the series with four wins apiece.
However, that prospect is looking dismal right now.
Following Sunday's race at Atlanta, Busch dropped one spot to 14th in the standings, 37 points behind 12th-ranked Matt Kenseth and 17 points behind Brian Vickers, who moved up to 13th.
| All-Time Wins | ||
|---|---|---|
| Kyle Busch already ranks ninth all-time in wins in the three series combined. | ||
| Rank | Driver | Wins |
| 1. |
Richard Petty |
200 (all in Sprint Cup) |
| 2. |
David Pearson |
106 (105 in Cup, 1 Nationwide) |
| 3-t. |
Dale Earnhardt |
97 (76 Cup, 21 Nationwide) |
| 3-t. |
Darrell Waltrip |
97 (84 Cup, 13 Nationwide) |
| 5. |
Mark Martin* |
94 (39 Cup, 48 Nationwide, 7 Trucks) |
| 6. |
Jeff Gordon* |
87 (82 Cup, 5 Nationwide) |
| 7. |
Bobby Allison |
86 (84 Cup, 2 Nationwide) |
| 8. |
Cale Yarborough |
83 (all in Sprint Cup) |
| 9. |
Kyle Busch* |
56 (16 Cup, 27 Nationwide, 13 Trucks) |
| 10. |
Rusty Wallace |
55 (all in Sprint Cup) |
| * = Currently Active; Source: NASCAR | ||
It may not be much consolation if he misses the Chase, but with 21 combined wins last year plus the 14 he already has in 2009, Busch has won 35 races across all three series since the start of the 2008 season. If he manages to continue that kind of torrid victory pace, he mathematically could overtake second-ranked David Pearson (106 combined wins) by the time he's 30. Think about that.
If we extrapolate it even further, and if Busch continues racing into his 40s, he has a realistic chance of toppling Petty's all-time wins record – a mark many believe would never be broken – roughly by the time he hits 41 or 42.
Of course, that would be from combined wins in all three series for Busch, while all of Petty's victories came on the Cup circuit, a mark that will likely stand forever in that series' ranks, even with Busch's best efforts.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
9-07-2009 @ 11:41AM
jackie said...
Some one needs to check Kyle's equipment. There is no way in H he can run off and lap driver in less than 50 laps. Or am O wrong the other owners are so cheap they are willing to sit back and watch. Yes I do know all the checking and checking that is done bu sorry the COT was suppose to even things up it has lead to an runaway, for a couple 4 four drivers and the stands except on rare occasions are gone. The Nationwide race which used also fill the stands, now is half vacant.
That race was a joke only 7 cars on the lead lap out of what 35 to start. Can you tell me Carl Edwards is not an equal diver still young, Brother Kurt is an excellent driver and is still young.
The only thing that stops him from winning each and ever race is a wreck and or a bad car which is so rare.
What is so good when a driver starts anywhere in the field and in just few laps is at least 10 seconds ahead of the second place driver?
Maybe run a quick check minute before they come to the starting line. I would like to know what kind of lubricants he has in the operational part, including the engine. Less friction mean MPH.
jlre2
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9-07-2009 @ 11:47AM
tj said...
its such a joek letting the sprint cup drivers race in the Nationwide series. I have never thought it was right. Its like sending The Yankees to Triple A ball.. Sure some of the kids down there may be big league caliper but most are not. Its just not fair and on top of the it gives the Nascar team an advantage of running on tracks multiple times.
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9-07-2009 @ 12:08PM
Mike said...
Kyle is just that awesome! Watch him drive. The anouncers are still saying "Day iz tree wad" while Kyle is going 4 wide. It's about time somebody breaks the mold! I'm tired of seeing drivers do the same thing year after year. Maybe others drivers need to try it. It would give the fans something fun to watch.
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9-07-2009 @ 12:09PM
Larry said...
Talk about padding your stats. How many of those lower tier races would Busch would have won if Smoke or JJ had been in there.
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9-07-2009 @ 2:45PM
Bob said...
*While there is no denying that Kyle has tremendous driving skills, what exactly is a list such as this supposed to tell us? Wow, he can rack up 13 wins in a series that didn't even exist for most of those on the list. Wow, he can kick the snot out of the Cup-training league drivers. Woohoo, I'm sooo impressed. When is the media going to quick bowing at this immature jerk's feet? So he likes to race in other series' where most of the other all-time leaders spent little or no time in--why is that important?
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9-07-2009 @ 9:29PM
ironhead387 said...
AMEN Bob!!!!
9-07-2009 @ 3:19PM
nzcr14check in again said...
OOPS seems like the fanhouse has acquired another KYLIE BUSH LOVER, JERRY BUNGALOWSKY from yahoo.
Although not many question the kylie ability to drive including such an OBNOXIOUS SPECIES with the above listed champions of the past IT'S A TRAVESTY AND AN INSULT TO THE PERSONALITY AND INTEGRITY OF such champions.works for me...
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9-07-2009 @ 4:24PM
Welcome Don said...
No one has questioned his talent to drive........ the fact is he is still a "jerk"
and will dominate that stat as well.
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9-07-2009 @ 6:22PM
Brian said...
I’ve said it before, he is a great driver. With a little more work on his attitude, he just may become the best NASCAR has ever seen.
-Taglia
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9-07-2009 @ 6:24PM
garyslincoln said...
What a crybaby!!! I thought Jeff Gordon was bad!!! Big hairy deal he can kick everybodys ass in nationwide, what's that prove!!??? If things don't go his way, he throws a big fit!! When Stewart did that they wanted to send him to anger management!! BOO HOO kyle busch, you aren't crap to me!! Hope ya don't make the chase.
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9-07-2009 @ 7:31PM
drldeboer said...
The disrespect shown by the fans to the Busch, now Nationwide, series absolutely continues to boggle me. Take away that stat, and Mark Martin is just another driver and not on this list.
GO KYLE!!
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9-09-2009 @ 4:56AM
anzajoe said...
I AGREE DRIDEBEAR MM has been racing for generations but could not ever win a champ and for all those years 25 about he did even acquire lot of wins.KYLE although an obnoxious guy is going to beat martin soon.
Do not pay attention to the crappers on these pages.
9-07-2009 @ 10:04PM
inogenius said...
Combined wins isn't a fair statistic seeing as the truck series wasn't around until 1995, and the Busch series wasn't around until 1982. Not to mention, it wasn't until the early 2000's that Cup drivers began racing across multiple series. You need to look at the number of races run to provide a valid statistic, not just the number of wins.
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9-07-2009 @ 9:25PM
Bob said...
*Great argument, drideboer...NOT! You slam Martin for his Nationwide wins, then cheer for Kyle's great showing? Without his Nationwide wins, Kyle isn't on ANY list. And including his truck series wins is absurd...the series didn't even exist for most of these drivers.
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9-08-2009 @ 1:32AM
xxxsexyveronica said...
LOL, I been reading these blogs for many months but only in the last few weeks i begun to post.
What has been most amazing to me is not the fights and arguements you all engage in to,but the negativity and the hate you all express against KB and DEJ.
It's understandable about you all bashing and disliking
kyle because it's him that brings it all to himself,
but dej has been the opposite of kyle for a long time;
so why all the hate?
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9-08-2009 @ 2:04AM
Susan said...
Padding statistics. You can't compare the quality of the wins with the others mentioned. Kyle drops to the minor leagues to pad his numbers. The chart proved my point.
Also, there were many conversations on Twitters last night about Kyle's start to finish ratio. The reporters said that Kyle had the worst ratio of all drivers in Sprint Cup. Average loss of 6 positions.
I can't believe the reporters feel that they know what is best for Nascar. I don't want to hear about Kylie. I'm sick of hearing about him and his stunts.
If he doesn't make the chase will the reporters please stop shoving him in our faces. We would cheer for him (not against him) if we liked the guy.
Your websites, newspapers etc all continue to suffer because you won't accept that the fans do not like Kyle Busch. You are sinking your own business due to your over the top idoltry of Kyle Busch. Amazing.
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9-08-2009 @ 7:27AM
Kim said...
I agree with the sentiments of most on here. I can't believe that the writers are placing Kyle Busch on a stat list with some of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history! First and foremost, this kid hasn't even won a championship yet, but the writers see fit to compare him to some of the best of the best (head shaking).
Last year Kyle dominated the regular season in Sprint Cup and then faultered during the Chase. This year, he will most likely not even make the chase, yet everyone beats on others like Dale Jr. for not doing so? Once again, head shaking!
Kyle's numbers are going backwards, not forwards when compared to last year's stats. Let him stay in the minor leagues and run the Nationwide Series and the Truck Series and keep him out of Sprint Cup. His stats don't belong there among some of the current greats, such as Stewart, Johnson & Gordon.
I too am tired of having this spoiled brat and unprofessional Jerk shoved down my throat. I do not see what makes him so fantastic? When he wins three Sprint Cup championships in a row like my favorite driver, Johnson has, then maybe I will reconsider my opinion of him. Until then, he's just a "wannabe!"
Kim
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9-08-2009 @ 8:50AM
scottandru said...
With the increased opportunities for more wins in more series' over the last 10 to 15 years, this 'total wins' statistic is definitely one that seems more like 'headline searching' than anything else.
I am not taking anything away from Kyle... he's a great wheel man, but it's probably more fair to all the racers to look at his total wins for EACH SERIES separately.
Because he's so young and has incredible competitive fire to just 'get in and race', it's a lot easier for him to race 2 or 3 races each weekend for a long time to come.
Hmmmm.... maybe this is a good reason to look at limiting Cup drivers starts in the other series... OR, if they REALLY WANT TO make it fair, since Cup Drivers are supposed to be much BETTER DRIVERS, why don't they restrict Cup drivers NWS and CWTS cars by 10 or 15 horsepower and see if they can still get past all the other lower spenders.
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9-08-2009 @ 9:51AM
Kim said...
The more I think about the above article, the more irritated I become! These stats are NOT a complete picture nor are they fair to some other spectacular drivers to date.
Here's some comparrison stats for you:
Carl Edwards 2008 Sprint Cup & Nationwide Results:
9 Sprint Cup Wins
19 top fives
27 top tens
7 Nationwide Wins
19 top fives
21 top tens
4 poles
In his six years of racing, Carl has made the chase 5 out of 6 years, three of which he finished in the top five.
Kyle Busch 2008 Sprint Cup & Nationwide Results:
16 Sprint Cup wins
17 top fives
21 top tens
10 Nationwide wins
18 top fives
20 top tens
In his six years of racing, Kyle Busch has made the Chase, 3 out of 6 times, with only one finish in the top five.
So using this writer's logic, Carl Edwards should be considered "one of the greatest" as his numbers are better than Busch's in the same amount of years in racing. This article and the above table are scewed to once again "highlight" how much the "media" loves Kyle Busch. The fans aren't buying it!
Kim
P.S. Truck Series stats are not included in my above stats because Carl hasn't run the Truck Series since his last season, which was 2007. His overall stats for the truck series however are: 6 wins by the end of 07'. Kyle Busch: 9 truck wins including 08's stats. So should Carl Edwards still be racing trucks, he would probably beat KB on those stats, too.
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9-08-2009 @ 10:08AM
motorsportwriter said...
To Kim and all the others who have written in: I appreciate your passion and loyalty for/against Kyle. But the story was not the media fawning all over Kyle or anything like that. It was simply a story about statistics, namely, wins. Stats can be massaged and twisted in all different forms, but this was a pretty straight-forward examination that when it comes to wins, regardless of the class he's racing in, there's no denying Kyle has 56 wins to date across all three combined series. It's not a matter of myself putting Kyle on a pedastal or anything like that; the numbers came from NASCAR and my post was simply a reflection on that. While I agree that some of the older winningest drivers didn't have an opportunity to race in more than the Cup/Grand National Series, unlike Kyle and others of today's ilk, you need to remember that back in the day when there was only one "pro" series, many of those drivers competed in 40, 50, or even more than 60 races per season, unlike the 36 races on the current Sprint Cup schedule. So, while they didn't have a second or third series to race in, they certainly made up for that with quantity of races available for them to compete in. Thanks to everyone for writing in and feel free to respond to my comments. Thanks for being loyal readers of FanHouse.com.
Jerry Bonkowski
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