Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
One of the greatest things about sports (including NASCAR) is that it creates moments and stories that you simply cannot find anywhere else. Sports and the athletes that partake in them are often times embodiment of stories that you would think would only be possible in the movies. These moments coupled with the drama help make sports must-see television.
More from NASCAR
- NASCAR Cup Series: New team set to compete in 2024
- NASCAR: Will Kevin Harvick’s major record ever be broken?
- NASCAR: Surprising name continuously linked to new seat
- NASCAR driver at risk of missing the Daytona 500?
- NASCAR set for rare appearance last seen 13 years ago
Right now NASCAR is providing the canvas for one of those great sports moments and the artist is none other than Kyle Busch. Busch has won two of the last three NASCAR events, a feat that is impressive all by itself. However, the feat becomes simply incredible when you look at where Busch was just a few short months ago.
On Saturday February 13th, 2015, Busch strapped himself into his No. 54 Xfinity Series car. It was the day before the Daytona 500 and it was moments before the start of the 2015 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. Busch, like many other drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series often runs races in the Xfinity Series during the season. On that Saturday it was nothing new for Busch as the Xfinity race was simply going to be the precursor for the Daytona 500 the following afternoon.
Those who follow NASCAR know what happened next.
During that Xfinity Series race Busch wrecked and cascaded across the infield grass into an unprotected concrete wall. The result of the wreck was devastating as Busch broke his leg and his foot. Although the injuries were not life threatening, Busch left the track that day in the back of an ambulance wondering if he would ever be able to continue his racing career.
The prognosis after the wreck wasn’t the best. Busch was expected to make a full recovery but his doctors refused to put a timetable on when he would be able to return to the racetrack. Although his injuries were expected to heal there was still no guarantee that he would be able to race at the level he was able to before the accident. While recovering, Busch and his wife Samantha welcomed their first child; a beautiful little boy named Brexton. In the weeks after the accident most was quiet when it came to Busch. Since there was no timetable for his return it was hard to really speculate anything.
On April 15th, just over eight weeks after the accident Busch spoke with reporters in-depth for the first time since Daytona. At his press conference with the media at Joe Gibbs Racing Busch replayed the events that led to his injuries and spoke about what was going on with him as it was happening. At this time there still wasn’t a solid timetable for his return but he felt confident that it would be sooner rather than later. On May 12th Busch announced that he would return to NASCAR and run in the Sprint All-Star Race and then the following week he would return to normal competition.
All together Busch missed 11 races. After smashing into an exposed concrete wall at nearly 170 MPH and breaking his leg and his foot, Busch only missed 11 races and just over three months of action.
When Busch returned to NASCAR he had two goals in mind and that was to be competitive and qualify for the chase, NASCAR’s version of the playoffs. In order for Busch to make the chase he would have to win one of the next 15 races and move into the top-30 in points. Keep in mind that 11 races had passed and drivers had earned points in all 11 of those races. Heading into his first race back Busch was mired back in 48th place in the standings needing a boat-load of points and at least one win. Fast forward only seven races and Busch is in 35th place and only 87 points behind 30th-place driver Cole Whitt.
Busch is still a long ways away from creating sports magic but he has more than started the script.
In seven races Busch has accomplished something that the majority of the other drivers in the series have not, he has won two races. After missing 11 races Busch is higher in the point standings than some drivers who have run in all 18 events this season. Five months after being in the worst wreck of his career and thinking that he might not be able to race again, Busch is making his trek to the playoffs and trying to win his first NASCAR championship.
Like I said before, it’s not quite magic yet. Making the chase is where the magic would begin whereas winning the championship is where the magic becomes the stuff that legends are made off. Calling for Busch to win a title at this point would certainly be putting the cart before the horse but it’s also not out of the realm of possibility. In February nobody thought Busch would be racing as soon as he was and when he came back nobody thought he would have two wins and in the hunt for the chase.
When it comes to sports, fans are often treated to moments that cannot be created anywhere else. The moments that Busch is creating in the story of his comeback make it hard not to root for him or at least respect what he is doing. As Busch’s story continues so will the amazing moments and then the only question will be where does it end. If you’re a fan of special moments in sports than you will only want to see it end one way and that just so happens to be the same way that all of Busch’s fans want to see it end.