Kurt Busch's stellar start just missing a few pieces
Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images
Wherever Kurt Busch goes, success follows.
The 2004 NASCAR champion has elevated every program he has joined--particularly in his last four rides.
But Busch’s most dramatic contribution could be the turnaround he’s launched in his debut season at Chip Ganassi Racing. Sure, Jamie McMurray, Busch replaced, had a career season in 2010, with three wins (Daytona 500, Indy and Charlotte, no less) and four poles. Over the next eight seasons, however, McMurray won just one additional race.
And Chip Ganassi likes winners.
Although Busch has yet to win in 2019, he has earned six top-10 finishes in the first eight races behind the wheel of the No. 1 Monster Energy Chevrolet—a feat no other driver has accomplished in that car since the Earnhardt Ganassi Racing merger of 2009.
“It’s a good start,” Busch said following his season-high result of second on Sunday. “We’re piecing things together. We have a lot of puzzle pieces—and they’re fitting together. We’ve just got to have all of those extra little things.”
One of those “little things” is the difference between qualifying 27th and advancing to the final round on Friday. Another of those “little things” is the difference between entering the pits fifth and restarting ninth, as was the case for Busch on his final pit stop on Sunday. And those “little things” constitute the difference between being able to run down Kyle Busch in the closing laps at Bristol Motor Speedway and finishing second.
“Each time I pitted behind Kyle, he would jump ahead of us by three spots,” Busch added. “Restarts, I need to be able to toss it in there and stick with the right rear tires, and that would help us in qualifying, too. Couple of little puzzle pieces, and we’ll be all right.”
Over the last eight years, Busch has been masterful at putting the pieces together. He endured a humbling experience with Phoenix Racing trying to rebuild his career following a falling out at Team Penske in 2011. Busch moved to Furniture Row Racing with six races remaining in the 2012 season. He closed out the year with three consecutive top-10 finishes. In 2013, the No. 78 team qualified for the Playoffs for the first time in the company’s seven-year existence.
Busch was recruited by Gene Haas to drive the No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing car but never felt totally comfortable at the organization. Sure, Busch won in each of the years he drove for SHR. He also qualified for the Playoffs. But Busch never received the respect due a champion while under the roof at Stewart-Haas.
Ganassi Racing has provided Busch with yet another fresh start. The result? He’s currently enjoying a career-best average finish of 8.6 for the season.
He’s thrilled with the progress the team has made under the direction of crew chief Matt McCall. Busch has generally been drawn to veteran, old-style crew chiefs such as Tony Gibson and Todd Berrier versus engineers. Having McCall on the pit box marks the first time in two decades that the 2004 NASCAR champion has worked with a fellow driver.
With the exception of a few trying moments on Fridays, this team has never been more competitive. Considering that Busch won the 2018 pole award for posting the top speed in qualifying five times last year, clearly it’s a weakness the team must address to compete against Joe Gibbs Racing and Team Penske.
“It’s been a good start with us teaming up with Ganassi and everybody that was on the 1 car,” Busch said. “The results they had from years prior? I would say that we jumped into another category. And we also know we can go and grab another category, and that is to get those top fives.
“But right now, the Penske guys are really strong. The Gibbs guys are really strong. And SHR might be off just a little bit with the start of the season. And so when you’re trying to battle for top-five spots and Penske and Gibbs have them on lockdown, that’s where we know we need to work at our own pace, find our own speed, and make both the Ganassi cars better.
“And, we’ll find it. We’ll find our spots to run really well and we’ll find some weak areas that we still need to fix. But I’m pleasantly surprised and happy with the way the season has started.”
Our Partners
.png)
