As the 2020 Nascar Cup season has restarted there has been much focus on the ouster of Kyle Larson and his subsequent replacement by Matt Kenseth. However, less talked about is Kyle Busch’s new status as the only Kyle racing in the series.
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| His next license place should be "ONLYKYLE" or "PURPLE1" |
“It’s been a lot of pressure, I’m not gonna lie”, Busch said in an exclusive interview conducted—due to social distancing regulations—over AOL Instant Messenger. “For years I wasn’t the only one carrying the Kyle name, but now, it’s all on my relatively narrow shoulders.”
Busch has spent the bulk of his Cup career sharing his first name with Larson and, before that, country music singer Kyle Petty. Now, however, he is a singular Kyle amongst the 40-something Cup Series racers.
“I know Kyle Benjamin and Kyle Weatherman are out there, but until they get a regular Cup ride—and no, not something with Rick Ware—it’s all on me. At least I have my brother (Kurt) taking the pressure off sharing my last name with a watery beer.”
Busch has felt the pressure of handing the Kyle namesake since Nascar returned to the track last weekend.
“Thinking about all the responsibilities of being the only Kyle—I’m not proud of this, but it creeps up on me”, Busch said. “It caused a momentary lapse of concentration at Darlington and I wound up tapping Chase Elliott.
“At least Chase knew what I was going through, though”, Busch concluded, “he held up one finger to acknowledge my struggle as the only Kyle left.”