NASCAR: Kyle Busch sees brighter days ahead, looking forward to NFL

Two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch told Beyond the Flag that outside of NASCAR, he is most looking forward to the NFL getting the 2020 season in.

NASCAR has now been back in action for nearly four months following an unplanned 10-week stoppage in action caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The sport was the first major sport to return to action after the sports world basically shut down in mid-March with no immediate plans to boot back up due to the threat of COVID-19.

Additionally, NASCAR and IndyCar have both not only gotten back underway but done so with a considerable number of fans in attendance at certain venues, something that was not even attempted for the first several races over public health concerns.

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As for the other big sports, NCAA Football and the NFL have made out well (so far) in that they finished their 2019-2020 seasons before the pandemic struck.

So while uncertainty still looms over their futures and there are doubts that a 2020-2021 season will exist as initially planned for either one, there were never any plans for them to be in action throughout these last few months anyway. However, other sports have already suffered. The NCAA Basketball March Madness men’s and women’s tournaments had to be canceled for the first time ever, MLB only got the 2020 season underway in July after it was scheduled to begin in March, and the 2019-2020 seasons for the NBA and NHL got back underway shortly after the MLB began after having been suspended since March.

We asked two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch if there are any other sports he is particularly looking forward to watching now that things are picking back up.

Busch highlighted the NFL, his Denver Broncos fandom, and his hope that nothing happens to the 2020 NFL season beyond the relatively minor inconveniences with which the sport has dealt thus far, particularly compared to some of the other leagues.

“I’m a big NFL fan and I have a lot of respect for those guys doing what they do each week,” Busch told Beyond the Flag. “I’m friends with a lot of guys over there. I am a big Denver Broncos fan so hopefully they can find a way to get their season underway and we get to watch some football this fall.”

The Broncos are seeking their first playoff appearance since winning Super Bowl L back in February of 2016 in what was legendary future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning’s final start. They knocked off the Carolina Panthers, another team Busch has cheered for from time to time given his NASCAR ties to Charlotte, North Carolina, by a score of 24-10.

Last season’s Broncos finished at 7-9 in second place in the AFC West behind eventual Super Bowl LIV champions Kansas City Chiefs (12-4). However, they went 4-1 with rookie quarterback Drew Lock under center to close out the season, with their only loss coming on the road against eventual Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in the snow.

The season is scheduled to get underway this evening at Arrowhead Stadium with the Chiefs hosting the Houston Texans. The Broncos’ opener is scheduled to take place at their home stadium, Empower Field at Mile High, on Monday, September 14 against the Tennessee Titans.

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With the NFL having expanded to a 14-team playoff format this year and the Broncos seen as a dark horse playoff pick, perhaps Busch will have something to cheer about once the 2020 NASCAR season is over in November.

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