NASCAR: Kyle Busch post-race quote illustrates lower series debate

After winning yet another NASCAR Xfinity Series race, full-time Cup Series driver Kyle Busch made a statement illustrating the lower series debate.

After winning two NASCAR Truck Series races in two starts to open up the 2019 season, Kyle Busch has now won two Xfinity Series races in two starts to open up the season as well, giving him four victories in four races in NASCAR’s lower series so far in 2019.

After earning his second Xfinity Series victory of the season by dominating the iK9 Service Dog 200 at ISM Raceway, Busch made a statement regarding competing in lower series despite the fact that he is a full-time Cup Series driver and has been a full-time Cup Series driver in each of the last 15 seasons.

Here is what Busch had to say in his post-race interview about the matter.

"“If I’m allowed to enter a race, I’m going to enter a race.”"

You can watch the full video of his interview, in which he discusses the matter a bit more in-depth, here.

Per NASCAR’s current limitations, drivers such as Busch who have competed in the Cup Series on a full-time basis for at least five seasons are permitted to compete in seven Xfinity Series races and five Truck Series races each season.

Can you really blame Busch for taking advantage of these rules and doing what he and many others are allowed to do?

Whether or not you believe that Busch should compete in seven Xfinity Series races and five Truck Series races each season like he does not change the fact that if this is indeed an “issue”, that issue revolves around NASCAR, not Busch.

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Sure, not all of the full-time Cup Series drivers compete in seven Xfinity Series races and five Truck Series races each season like Busch does. In fact, many of them don’t even come close, and it is absolutely no secret to anybody that Busch is certainly the most notable Cup Series driver when it comes to competing in the Xfinity Series and Truck Series.

The 33-year-old Las Vegas, Nevada native has earned an all-time record 94 career Xfinity Series victories and an all-time record 53 career Truck Series victories, and he has earned 89 of these 94 Xfinity Series victories and all 53 of these Truck Series victories during his 15 seasons as a full-time Cup Series driver. These 147 combined Xfinity Series and Truck Series victories account for 74.24% of his 198 career NASCAR victories, a mark that is only two victories away from the all-time record of 200.

But the limits that Busch is adhering to are NASCAR-imposed limits, not Busch-imposed limits, and they have actually gotten stricter over the years. Just think: 10 years ago, full-time Cup Series driver Busch was crowned the Xfinity (then Nationwide) Series champion.

While he may be perceived as “stealing candy from babies” or “bullying the kids”, NASCAR’s rules are what allow Busch to do what he does. He isn’t getting some special pass to go out and compete in however many races he wants to, and his quote could not possibly illustrate that any better than it does.

In other words, the people who believe that this is a problem need to realize that Busch is not the root of that problem.

Meanwhile, Busch has five more Xfinity Series starts lined up throughout the remainder of the 2019 season. He is set to compete in the races at Auto Club Speedway on Saturday, March 16, Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday, March 30, Watkins Glen International on Saturday, August 3, Bristol Motor Speedway on Friday, August 16 and Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday, September 7.

He also has three more Truck Series starts lined up throughout the remainder of the 2019 season. He is set compete in the races at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday, March 23, Texas Motor Speedway on Friday, March 29 and Charlotte Motor Speedway on Friday, May 17.

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Should NASCAR further limit full-time Cup Series drivers from competing in Xfinity Series and/or Truck Series races in the future, or are the limitations fine where they are right now? Regardless of what they should do and what they will do, Kyle Busch’s quote could not possible be a better illustration of the debate about the matter.

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