That's Racing: Busch shoots from the lip… and is on target

Kyle Busch often says what he thinks even if it's not politically correct.

Maybe his nickname should be Candid Kyle. Ask Kyle Busch a question and you get an honest — and generally not politically correct — answer.

He doesn’t pause to consult with a PR handler, kowtow to NASCAR or check with some stuffed shirt over in marketing. Nope, Busch just guns his gums and says exactly what he thinks.

Take a couple of weeks ago after his runner-up finish to Joey Logano at Nashville Superspeedway. Busch was positively seething when he stalked into the Media Center for the mandatory post-race interview/inquisition. While most drivers would be satisfied with second, Busch was furious. His is a black-and-white world: You either win or you lose. He didn’t win, so that meant he lost.

The way he sees it, the second-place driver is just the first loser to cross the finish line.

After griping about having to settle for second, Busch was asked about the track’s new “All Access” program. Fans are allowed (for a price) to get up-close and personal with drivers. They can attend the pre-race drivers’ meeting, watch goings-on in the garage, and line up for autographs. Busch didn’t care for the arrangement. He was peeved because too many fans brought too many items to get signed.

“It’s our job to sign for the fans and treat them nice, but when they’ve got three suitcases of stuff that’s a little ridiculous …three suitcases are a little outrageous,” he fumed. “And they camp outside your hauler. To me, that’s wrong.”

With that, Busch packed up his attitude and split. End of press conference. In his wake could be heard mummers and mutterings about “jerk” and “whiner” and “brat,” along with a few other choice adjectives.

But afterwards, when the smoke cleared and the dust settled and you had time to step back and analyze Busch’s comments, guess what? He was right.

It IS absurd to ask drivers to sign an unlimited number of items such as die-cast cars and other such racing souvenirs. Those “fans” aren’t collecting an autograph of a favorite driver — they are profiteers seeking to turn a trinket into treasure with a celebrity signature. Trust me: Most of the stuff that was shoved at Busch to sign ended up on eBay or some similar auction block.

It is an imposition on the driver and unfair to the fans who genuinely want a keepsake autograph but can’t get one because the suitcase-carriers hog all the time.

And about his second-place gripe: what’s wrong with a driver hating to lose, a driver who wants to win so badly that it hurts?

Not too many years ago Matt Kenseth was criticized for winning a title without seeming overly concerned about winning a race. Now Busch says if you’re not the winner, you’re a loser and noses get bent out of shape.

The difference between Busch and a lot of other drivers is that he has the courage/ audacity to say publicly what they’re thinking privately. Amid all the fuss and bluster he makes some legitimate points. Sometimes there’s reason behind his rants.