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NASCAR Update - With Chase Almost Here, Kyle Busch Regains His Form

Bookmark and Share by D.S. Williamson

We’re almost ready for the 2009 Chase for the Cup, and wouldn’t you know it? Kyle Busch, the brilliant driver who had one of the most memorable seasons in NASCAR history in 2008 and until last Saturday a forgettable 2009, is suddenly the talk of the NASCAR town.

By winning his second race of the year at Bristol, CT last Saturday, Busch has climbed to #13 in the Sprint Cup Standings. With two races to go before the Sprint Cup starts, it is Busch’s hope that Mark Martin, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth or Juan Pablo Montoya, the four men ahead of him and in the Top 12 for the Chase, will falter.

Of course, if Busch wins the next two races, his spot in the Chase is assured. The chances of that happening aren’t out of the realm of possibility as Busch won the Kobalt Tools 500 on the Atlanta Motor Speedway racetrack in 2008 and just won at Richmond International Raceway earlier this year when taking home the trophy in the Crown Royal.

If Busch were to win both races, then his chances of taking home his first Sprint Cup would greatly improve.

Can Martin Do It?

The talk before the season started revolved around Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the fact that he abandoned DEI in order to driver for Hendrick Motorsports. Jr. even made the cover of Sports Illustrated during the NASCAR off-season, but another driver has taken his place behind the Hendrick duo of Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon.

That driver, Mark Martin, has a legitimate shot to not only make the Chase, he’s 10th in the standings after last Saturday’s race, but to actually win the Sprint Cup this year. Martin took over for Casey Mears in the #5 Kellogs car before the season started and has been one of the best drivers on the circuit.

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Martin has won 5 poles and 4 races in 2009. Why then is he struggling to even make the Chase? Martin, like Kyle Busch, has a tendency to either succeed or fail. When he succeeds, he really succeeds, but when he fails, a placing between 30 to 40 in a race is not out of the question.

Perhaps, Martin has changed tactics recently as he finished second last Saturday in the Sharpie 500. NASCAR better hope so. It wouldn’t make sense for its top regular season winner, Martin and Busch are both tied with 4 wins apiece, to not make the Chase.

Stewart Still Strong

Smoke had an uncharacteristic 33rd place finish last Saturday in the Sharpie 500, but NASCAR fans shouldn’t be fooled. Tony is driving better than any other guy on the circuit right now and will probably bounce back next week, on September 6th, when NASCAR hits Atlanta.

There was a lot of talk at the beginning of the season on whether or not Stewart would be successful as a driver and owner. He’s been nothing but successful since the season started and another Sprint Cup victory for the venerable driving master could be in the cards.

One man who misses Tony has to be Joe Gibbs whose top driver, Kyle Busch, might not even make the Chase. Oh, well. It just goes to show you that the best drivers in NASCAR bounce back after bad years. Gibbs probably should have taken the time to really get something going with Smoke. Then again, Smoke made up his mind halfway through the 2008 season. There wasn’t much Joe could do at that point.

Next Up? Atlanta!

NASCAR is off this weekend but will resume Sprint Cup racing on September 6th when drivers head to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Pep Boys Auto 500.