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[/media-credit]To say the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup season has been a roller coaster ride for Kyle Busch is a massive understatement. Heading into the 2012 Sprint Cup Series season, Busch was expected to compete for his first NSCS championship and after a dramatic victory in the Bud Shootout at Daytona many believed that it would be a catapult of things to come for the Las Vegas native.
After the first eight races of the season which saw Busch only record one top-5 finish (Fontana) and three top-10’s. Many were scratching their heads about the performance of the No.18 team. Finally Busch was able to find victory lane when he took the checkers at Richmond a track where he has won the last four consecutive spring races. Busch then followed up the Richmond win with three more top-5 finishes which propelled him to 8th in the points and in prime position to make a return to the chase.
Then come a disastrous three race stretch (Dover, Pocono and Michigan) which saw the No.18 M&M’s Toyota Camry have two engine failures (Dover and Pocono) and a poor showing at Michigan dropped Busch from 8th to 14th in the championship standings. What was even more damaging was a 30th place average finish in that three race stretch.
The remainder of the 2012 regular season continued to be up and down for Busch as he was never able to regain the consistency he showed during a month stretch earlier in the season. In the chase deciding race at Richmond in September, Busch was never surprisingly a factor finishing a frustrating 16th place and had to watch Jeff Gordon claim the final chase spot by a slim two point margin.
Heading into the chase many wondered how Busch would respond to the disappointment of not making the chase and some wondered when the next blow up was coming. But this was a new year and a new Kyle Busch. Instead of dwelling on a missed opportunity Busch has rose to the occasion. After a very strong chase opener in Chicago where Busch finished 4th.
Loudon saw more of the same bad luck that had plagued the No.18 team all year long in a disappointing 28th place finish. Other than a crash at Kansas this chase has been nothing but stellar for Kyle.
In nine chase races this season Busch has finished in the top-5 in six of them and has seven top-10 finishes in these nine races. Busch has also led 673 laps in the chase second to only Jimmie Johnson’s 686 laps led.
You can truly sum this year up for Busch as what might have been if not for the bad breaks and often times inconsistent finishes that plagued him. But the end of this 2012 season has to be optimistic for Busch and his fan base. Strong cars every week, an improved level of maturity, and the communication between Busch and crew chief Dave Rogers getting better on a weekly basis one has to believe that Busch may be the early threat for the 2013 NSCS title.
2013 could finally be The Year of Rowdy.
