If you were Joe Gibbs today, would you be having a talk with Kyle Busch?

Question

Having watched the Craftsman, Nationwide, and Sprint series this weekend it seemed by race time on Sunday Kyle Busch was having serious jet lag. First he wrecks his primary car in practice, then he right turns and ends up in the wall early in the Sprint race. If I were Joe Gibbs, I'd be having Kyle in for a long chat today that said "No more of this three races in three locations in one weekend. I hired you to be 100% into driving this #18 in the Sprint series and either you are 100% committed to this series and this car or you're not. Which is it? Get over the ego trip you are on and concentrate on this cup car. What happens if you break an ankle or something in the Craftsman race or the Nationwide race and then you are out of the Sprint Chase for the season. You willing to risk that?"

Answer 1

Kyle is doing great everyone has a bad week once in a while I'd be talking to Tony if I were Gibbs four consecutive finishes out of the top ten including a DNF he's almost out of the chase.

Answer 2

Yes..I'd tell him to stop driving like an a$$ and take care of the equipment.  You can be a good driver and win races, by not driving all over the place like a maniac, putting your life and others in jeapordy. He will learn one day..just like yesterday..karma will get you when you least expect it and that was just a little bit of what he deserves!

Answer 3

This is a tricky deal Sally.  Right now you don't really want to change too much, if you are Joe Gibbs.  Kyle is having a lot of fun and his attitude about racing is pretty upbeat.  On the other hand, Kyle is going to wear himself too thin by trying to do it all.  I would talk to him about what his goals are and what he hopes to accomplish this year.  He is not going to win all 3 series and he should stick to a couple and do all 3 if it is feasible.  Kyle's ego and enthusiasm are clouding his judgment a little and somebody needs to step in and tell him no every once in awhile.  The obvious goal is to win the Sprint Series championship and will racing every race in all 3 series help him achieve that?  I don't think so and doubt that Joe and JD do either.

3 STR8 N 08!!!

Answer 4

If I were Gibbs..."Kyle no more trucks...the only time you race Nationwide is when they're at the same track as Nextel...and no more random spins when no one is around you."

Answer 5

Nope.  The Sprint Cup accident was in part because of his spotter and in part because he was just driving aggressive and thought he had the car cleared.  I don't think you can blame one bad week on too much racing.  But as the saying goes, only the future will tell...

Answer 6

He was told while with the evil empire that he was not allowed to race in any other series, he likes to race and enjoys the freedom to do so...i don't think that JD Gibbs, who happens to be in charge at JGR has a problem with Kyle and all the racing he does. Kyle only looked tired once he'd been out of the Cup car for a while, he had to be bored out of his mind waiting for the crew to fix the car.

Answer 7

If I were a car owner like Joe Gibbs I might have to talk with him about maybe cutting back. Its not like he needs alot more experience or seat time as they call it. But then I can understand his desire to race. From what I hear racing is in your blood and you just cant turn it off. The companion races would be OK with me doing the three races( truck, nationwide & cup) but traveling the way he did this weekend was a bit much. You gotta like the mans desire.

Great question Sally!!

Answer 8

He loves to race, it wasn't an ego trip. It affected him but I doubt Joe Gibbs would be that hard on him. If he was at Hendrick still, that's a different story.

Answer 9

No Kyle is the man!!!!!

Answer 10

yeah, id tell him to s***w the truck race , who cares about that

Answer 11

accident wasnt from jet lag though, spotter didnt see mcmurray in time. it still might have hurt his performance and if i were joe gibbs i might mention it to him to mabe take it easy but I wouldnt tell him no more racing in other series, its like saying you can only do what you love to do for my team..... i wouldnt do that.

Answer 12

As Widget pointed out, he's not with the Evil Empire anymore so Coach Gibbs will allow his talent to reach full bloom. Hendrick's loss, NASCAR history books gain.

And, Sally B rocks :^)

Answer 13

He didn't race three races because it was an ego trip.  He raced because he LOVES to ravce.  I don't blame him either.  Joe Gibbs probably said "Well done, better luck next time" and that would have been that.  I did see the look on Rowdy's face when he took all the blame for the Jamie McMurray incident and felt pretty bad for him because you could tell it was eating him inside.

Answer 14

Let him know that its one of those racing deals.