(WOMR file photo)
Every since the, now infamous, Kyle Busch-Ron Hornaday incident at Texas Motor Speedway back in November, I have been trying to understand why the brothers Busch seem to be at the crux of almost every controversy in NASCAR these days. As their tenure in NASCAR lengthens Kyle and Kurt seem to be more entrenched into their attitude of “NASCAR entitlement”, kind of “us against the world”.
I have difficulty trying to understand Kyle’s childish behavior and negativism towards the press when he has not won a race. Yet, on his winning nights, he is Mr. Personality. To me a sure case of either, multiple personalities, Jekyll and Hyde, or more likely, “us against the world” mentality.
Likewise, I have been pondering many of the same questions in regards to Kyle’s older brother, Kurt. For most of the 2011 season, Kurt’s radio transmissions from the race have made the headlines on ESPN weekly. This year Kurt has been noted more for his “radio meltdowns” than for winning races!
However, the ultimate “meltdown” came at Homestead in the final race of the 2011 season. That profanity laced attack on ESPN’s Dr. Jerry Punch was the straw that broke the camel’s back at Penske Racing! Kurt was summarily dismissed from his very lucrative contract at Penske Racing after his tirade.
As race car drivers, the brothers Busch are extremely talented young men. Nevertheless, they both are very intolerant, impatient, arrogant, rude, crude, and socially unacceptable! Both brothers have had a very difficult time working with crew chiefs. Poor Steve Addington received a double dose of the brothers Busch, once at JGR with Kyle, and last year at Penske with Kurt. He has since resigned from Penske and is now taking on another steep challenge with Tony Stewart!
Both of the Busch brothers have had run-ins with local law enforcement agencies, as well. Back in 2005, Kurt had a brush with the law at the fall race in Phoenix on a Saturday evening. He was apparently pulled over on suspicion of driving while intoxicated and cited for reckless driving while leaving the Phoenix International Raceway. The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Deputy that pulled Kurt over stated that he was “argumentative and uncooperative”. That led to Jack Roush to immediately terminate the 2004 Sprint cup champion with two races left in the season!
Kyle’s problem occurred earlier in 2011 when he and his wife decided to take a like “joy ride” and test out the new Lexus. Ol Kylie was clocked doing 128 MPH in a 45 MPH zone! I think that might be just a little excessive, and for most drivers that would justify the police officer cuffing the driver and escorting him downtown to the “pokey”! Kyle did not suffer that consequence, however.
How can these two brothers constantly be in hot water?
I think that I have come up with a possible reason! I remember reading an article that Rebecca Gladden, a member of the NASCAR citizen’s media corp, had written back in November of 2011 titled, “The Keys to Understanding the Busch Brothers”. Ms. Gladden wrote that back in 2008 she read an article written by Raygan Swann, and therein lies some very interesting insights to the Brothers Busch.
In that article Mr. Swann explains that back in 2008 Gayle Busch, Kyle and Kurt’s mother, was to participate in the Mother’s Day festivities at Darlington Raceway, and would be introduced to the crowd with both of her sons, Kurt and Kyle.
According to the article, Mrs. Busch was concerned because the previous weekend, Kyle was involved in a crash with Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Richmond. “There will be a lot of hurt feelings this weekend, it will be very hard on me walking across the stage in front of Junior Nation,” she said, hinting at her disdain for Earnhardt Jr.’s fans.
Then, Gaye Busch continued: “I’ve always told Kurt and Kyle to keep their chins up and let it roll off their shoulders, get used to it. Sorry my boys weren’t born in the South and sorry they win.”
So ladies and gentlemen, there you have it in a nutshell as to why Kurt and Kyle act the way that they do, and the reason that they have the “us against the world” attitude! Their attitudes were well formulated by their parents! It appears that their intolerance, arrogance, and their “us against the world” attitudes were cultivated and reinforced right from the get-go at home!
Do you remember the old adage, “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree”? Well, here is proof positive that old saying is still alive, well, and neatly cultivated within the Busch Family!
What are your views regarding Kurt, Kyle, and their “us against the world” attitude?
TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!
