DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The way Kyle Busch sees it, there is a flaw in the championship ring NASCAR awarded him last month.
It lacks any indication that the 2019 title was actually his second championship. Busch wants it fixed so it displays exactly what he’s earned. He has studied the issue and knows the New England Patriots created a ring that showcases their six Super Bowl victories.
When his career is over, Busch wants just one ring to encapsulate his accomplishments. He insists he will close his career alongside greats Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt and Jimmie Johnson.
But he doesn’t have seven Cup Series titles.
“Not yet I don’t,” Busch said with a wink.
Busch’s bid for a third championship doesn’t begin until Feb. 16 at the Daytona 500, a race he desperately wants to win. Busch is 0 for 14 in “The Great American Race” with a bitter runner-up finish to Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin in last year’s 1-2-3 Gibbs sweep.
He has won at every active NASCAR track except The Roval at Charlotte Motor Speedway yet his 56 career Cup victories do not include the Daytona 500. His warm-up begins this weekend at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, a twice-round-the-clock endurance race featuring champions from series all over the world.
The event is packed with Indianapolis 500 winners, Le Mans winners and some of the most skilled drivers from global series. Busch is on hand to steal the show.
His longtime partnership with Toyota got him the gig to drive a Lexus for the AIM Vasser Sullivan team, and Busch is the star attraction. He loves it, too, and at a January team dinner he wore that ring. For one night, he seemed as if he was that once-upon-a-time fun Kyle Busch.
He was just 16 when he first came into NASCAR in 2001, right as the series was passing a rule that sidelined him until his 18th birthday. He was brash even then — it’s some chip he and older brother Kurt have just always seemed to have, though he was tame compared with Kurt, the 2004 champion.
Busch is typically able to separate his personal and professional lives, but when things aren’t going well in either area, his temper can be short and his sarcasm biting.
“Think about his whole life. He’s got Sam and Brexton, but other than that, it’s racing,” said Joe Gibbs. “And when something goes bad in racing for him, think about how important that is, and it upsets him. Normally, the next day he’s a lot better.”
Busch has a legion of fan support from “Rowdy Nation,” the group he bows to with the checkered flag after every victory. Busch appreciates their backing beyond words, especially when he gets exhausted by the politics of a new NASCAR rules package and the grind of the 38-race schedule. Busch has other things to worry about, too: He owns the best truck team in the sport, and this year he will launch “Rowdy Energy” an energy drink Busch says he helped develop.
“Mine’s going to be better, better for you and better-tasting,” Busch insisted.
Busch has not been this outwardly happy in ages. Perhaps it comes with being the champion again, and the absolute belief that he can be the best NASCAR has ever seen.
The Daytona 500 is right around the corner, and a poor showing there could just as quickly send Busch scowling through the garage. He is always just one win away from feeling invincible.