July 5th, 2010 
Journo I know you’re saying right now, “Journo, what the heck are you talking about?” Give me a minute.
After Kyle and Juan Pablo Montoya got together on lap 103 (Montoya was about to get lapped by Busch who was in the lead), Kyle gave a very snarky interview to TNT. He said:
Kyle was not a happy camper, and rightfully so. As laughably sarcastic as the interview was, I think it was a bit of a breakthrough for Kyle.
How often in the past have we seen an angry Kyle Busch refuse interviews? The answer is a lot. Seldom is there a time I can recall him getting out of a wrecked racecar and giving an interview. In fact we’ve seen Kyle get out of his racecar when he hasn’t had such a bad day and refuse interviews.
This isn’t necessarily a slam on Kyle, he’s an intense guy who isn’t happy with anything less than a win (and he doesn’t want to talk about it when he’s had a bad day). It’s this intense focus and drive that has gotten him where he is today. Still there were/are definitely times it could be toned down (especially for the benefit of his sponsors). I think Kyle is starting to realize that.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence this growth in maturity has coincided with Kyle’s new position as a team owner, and his pending nuptials. Additionally, Kyle’s PR guy Bill Janitz deserves a big pat on the back. The 2009 recipient of NASCAR’s most valuable Cup series PR rep award, Janitz is one of the best in the business – I think we all can agree anyone who can effectively handle Kyle Busch is a master at his craft.
Needless to say, these things and others are starting to ground a still very young driver. This may be a little premature, but I think we’re seeing a guy who is growing tremendously both personally and professionally. Kyle has a bright future – and with a little media savvy he can do nothing but build his brand.
I don’t know about you, but I like this guy who’s willing to do interviews. He gives great soundbites, and let’s his personality show through. And after all don’t we watch for the characters, the drama, and the emotion?
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I started paying attention to NASCAR when Kyle was still driving for Hendrick. His move to JGR was the best thing that could happen to him. Hendrick is a provider – Gibbs is a leader.
Interesting history:
http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/columns/story?seriesId=2&columnist=newton_david&id=2903386
There is a difference between emotion/personality…and Arrogance!! That’s the difference with KB. Race emotion, throwing helmets, smart comments (ex:Harvick)…is what fans like….The arrogance that KB puts out, that the sport and all of the other drivers “owe” him the world, is total BS. – And you don’t need to act like a 5 year old when things don’t go your way, and run to your corner for a time out to suck your thumb…there are 42 other drivers just as well, and MORE deserving…..its the NASCAR Cup Series, noth the KB Cup series….
Although I am starting to like the “fireworks” that KB has provided these last two JUly races at Daytona! – Guess if you can’t have the winners spotlight, you can get on the wreck highlights!!
He is only 25. I give Sam more credit than most for the change.
he is a little biatch
There was a time, looong ago, when I would’ve agreed about “arrogance”. But not since 1986
its not always pretty but I’ve found it to be, in whatever dose, a component that all champions have. And I believe 100% that Kyle is a future Cup champion. He’s certainly become a winner in everything else so far.
One thing is for sure- mama and pappy Busch sure did a great job, their boys are a fine couple of race car drivers. They gotta be almost as proud as mama and pappy(Archie) Manning. I am not really much of a fan of either Kurt or Kyle but I will give them their due, but mostly I take my hat off to their parentsl.
In this vein of post race / bad race interviews ……. I must mention, although I am not much of a Jimmy Johnson fan, he is cool as a cucumber even after things went WAAAAAYYYY wrong for him. JJ (dat SOB) does the post race interview as if nothing happened, gotta admire that.
Certainly nothing against you, Journo, but the very idea that we can talk about drivers “building a brand” is what has turned me off from Cup racing the last few years. Yes, Cup and Nationwide competitors are at least 60% pitchman and 40% driver, and marketing is king, but something about those phrases just doesn’t seem right to me. It’s like your favorite band saying they have some “new product” that they want to “test in this market” right before they play new songs on a tour.
I’ve been a big fan of KB since his switch to JGR. And I’ve got to say, I was pleasantly surprised to see him give a post-crash interview. He rarely, if ever, had given an interview immediately after a bad result, so it is nice to see, and hopefully a step in a more mature direction, as you are suggesting.
I was cracking up with Kyle’s interview… reminded me of the old trash talking back in the 80′s back when DW was still known as Jaws.
He didn’t say anything bad and expressed everything on his mind.
Perfect!
Too bad he drives a Camry.
-W
I did make my day when HE WRECKED HIMSELF!
Until Johnson wrecked!
THAT MADE MY DAY!!!!!
The biggest retards both wrecking!
LOVE IT!!!
the real story in that interview with young mr busch was ralph shaheen. he stayed with the interview and didn’t allow the sarcastic answer to stand. he asked the question three different ways and finally, we were able to get an intelligent response and explanation. of course, that was immediately followed by a return to the sarcasm but hey! it’s a start.
shaheen also demonstrated his professionalism in the interview with the older mr busch. shaheen’s first question was about the altercation with edwards post-race and the answer was along the lines of “wow, that’s not a racing question but i since this is tnt, i guess it’s about the drama.” (no, older mr busch: it’s about getting the story behind what was being reported on twitter and by other sources. you know, the information that some race fans might actually be interested in as opposed to your recitation of your sponsors and how good your car was and the such.) once again, shaheen let the attack float over him and kept the interview focused on the question at hand.
i don’t credit either busch with maturity in this case: i credit ralph shaheen with extreme professionalism.
and markh? not sure what a 3 year old story contributes to this discussion– unless you’re trying to make a point about someting other than the topic at hand.
The thing that jumped out at me was the reporter,Ralph Sheheen I believe,trying to badger KB into making a statement that he wasn’t going to make.See,in racing sometimes “stuff” actually just does happen and that was pretty much the case this time.But Ralph was intent on trying to make KB either say that KB intentionally hit Montaya or maybe say that Montoya took him out and JPM better watch out later or something stupid like that.I’m not a KB fan but I do get tired of reporters trying to fan flames that aren’t there.I’m tired of the expectations that somebody HAS to say “it’s my fault” or words to that effect.Because sometimes it’s not anyones “fault”
steve, based on my post, it’s pretty clear we don’t agree. i didn’t see shaheen badgering busch. what i saw was a reporter who wasn’t going to let the original two sarcastic answers stand and kept asking for the racer’s version of what happened. when busch finally did answer, he discussed aerodynamics of the car and the track and it was as intelligent an answer as i’d heard.
i don’t believe shaheen was trying to “make” busch say anything beyond what busch, himself, felt had happened. by continuing to ask, to probe, to act like a reporter, shaheen was able to get that answer — and it was a damn good one. in fact, busch’s answer actually was more intelligent and enlightening than what had been said to that point, something the booth commented on immediately afterward.
you & i do agree that it often seems as if the nascar media are more interested in controversy than in getting solid information. where i believe we disagree is in this particular instance.
Garry,
You’ve GOT to be kidding me! Yeah ok, maybe the Busch parents ARE happy with their boys. The kids can drive but they are BOTH trash (like their parents I guess). To this very day there are no worse drivers out there when it comes to insulting their own teams. I have a friend that used to carry fronts for the 18. He’s told me that there are 10 different guys on the 18 team that would knock KyB’s teeth down his throat if they could get away with it. Now I’ve been around alot of racers, and many have a bad day and blow up at the crew. I’ve never in my life heard the stories in the garage that I CONTINUE to hear from the team members of the 2 and 18. Yeah, proud parents. Neato. Two more azzholes on the planet.
Too bad NASCAR doesn’t have telemetry (ala F1) for driver’s inputs. Would love to see Kryle’s face when his engineers ask him, “so, exactly why did you turn right?” Maybe his admission that he simply tried to throw an ill fated block on the outside JPM train would have sufficed. The whole air-causing-rear steer-on the straight explanation, while it all sounds impressive, is a bunch of bunk. I am surprised that the stuff we breathe called “AIR” did not get called into the BIG red (yellow) hauler for a talking to.
But, he did give an interview…yeah!
LOL, the day Kyle proves his maturity is the day he takes responsibility for his driving errors. I don’t see that happening any time soon!
First it was Hamlin “running him into the wall”, being translated out of Kyle-speak meaning “I tried a stupid pass on exit and lost all air to the front of the car which caused it to push into the wall”.
Now it’s “Juan took me out while I was driving straight as an arrow”, being translated out of Kyle-speak meaning “I hate that guy and I was moving right to block him so I could keep him a lap down even though I knew I’d be pitting under green the next lap”.
Kyle has immense talent, but is still woefully short on maturity. I will admit he’s taking some baby steps in the right direction and he’ll eventually catch up to his brother’s transformation in this area. Its just going to take a while is all.