Kyle Busch wants to check Daytona 500 victory off bucket list
Kyle Busch took care of one coveted accomplishment last season, making an improbable run to his first career championship after a devastating injury forced him to miss the season’s first 11 races.
Busch would like to knock off another bucket list item this weekend, and avenge some of his misfortune from last season by winning his first career Daytona 500.
Daytona International Speedway is the site where Busch found himself involved in a horrifying wreck a year ago during the season-opening Xfinity Series race that ultimately sidelined him for 11 races, including last year’s Daytona 500.
“We’d love nothing more than to continue on our championship celebration all the way through this weekend here in winning a Daytona 500 as well,” Busch said earlier this week. “It’s pretty cool to come here as champion. I definitely don’t mind it, that’s for sure. It’s different — a lot of champ references to me from other people, fans, media. Walking through the garage area, I seem to have picked up one or two more in my circle that want to follow me through.
It’s a race that 40 people have a chance to go out there and win this weekend.
Kyle Busch on Sunday’s Daytona 500
“I’m nowhere near [Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s] level, which is good. It’s definitely not a bad thing.”
Busch, known for his aggressive racing style and temperamental personality off the track, has yet to find success at the prestigious Daytona 500. He has two top-10 finishes in 10 career races, and has an average finish of 22.2.
But Busch isn’t a stranger to overcoming those types of issues. After all, he had never really had success in Chase races until last season. So maybe it’s time for his fortunes to change at the Daytona 500.
Everyone, though, has a chance in this race. It’s only been five years since little known Trevor Bayne took the checkered flag.
“It’s a race that 40 people have a chance to go out there and win this weekend,” Busch said. “I wouldn’t say the same for a race like Atlanta. You go to Atlanta and obviously that’s a race where probably 10, 12 guys are going to have a chance to win. But when you show up to Daytona, all 40 people will believe that they have a chance to win.”
Outside of the Daytona 500, Busch listed winning the Coke 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the All-Star race and winning at every track as goals he’s yet to accomplish.
Did you know?
Only five drivers have won the Daytona 500 and the Cup championship in the same season. Jimmie Johnson was the last to accomplish the feat in 2013 (as well as 2006). Others to do it — Lee Petty (1959), Richard Petty (1964, 1971, 1974, 1979), Cale Yarborough (1977) and Jeff Gordon (1997).
He said it
“I’m confident that if we can stay out of trouble on Sunday then we can kick off the season with a solid finish.” – Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
This story was originally published February 18, 2016 at 6:51 PM with the headline "Kyle Busch wants to check Daytona 500 victory off bucket list."