After Kyle Busch earned his first career win with Richard Childress Racing at Auto Club Speedway this past weekend and his 61st career win, he received high praise from NASCAR champions Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott.
Kyle Busch via NASCAR YouTube
Following the race, FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass was speaking with runner-up Chase Elliott, and began to ask a question about Busch and his strength early this season where he finished in the Top 3 at the Clash and challenged for the win at Daytona before winning at Fontana.
Elliott interrupted Pockrass and told him, “Why is anyone surprised by this? I mean that’s just mind-boggling to me that anyone is surprised that Kyle’s a fantastic, one of the best racecar drivers to ever do this.”
He added, “That didn’t change overnight. I’m not surprised, and anybody who is should rethink their NASCAR knowledge, in my opinion.”
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Larson, Elliott’s teammate at Hendrick Motorsports shared his praise for Busch on Twitter.
He tweeted, “Couldnāt be more happy forĀ Kyle Busch. The guy is one of the best race car drivers of all time and will always be. Iām glad it only took him 2 races to remind the world.”
Kyle Larson Twitter
RELATED: Kyle Petty Calls Kyle Buschās Move To Richard Childress Racing āA Move In The Wrong Directionā
One of Kyle Busch’s biggest critics of his move to Richard Childress Racing was Kyle Petty. Before last year’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Petty shared his thoughts saying, “Welcome to Kyle Pettyās world and accept the hate when it come. This is what Iām going to say. It is not a move forward and it is not a lateral move. It is a move in the wrong direction for a guy like Kyle Busch, I believe.ā
Petty elaborated, āItās a move backwards. Hereās a team, who since Kevin Harvick left at the end of 2013 and took his 23 wins with him, theyāve only won seven times. Seven times. In that same amount of time ā and this is a little bit of apples to oranges ā in that same amount of tie Kyle Busch himself has won two championships and 32 races. Thatās with a totally different type of organization.ā
He further explained, āHeās going to an organization that heās going to have to build. Heās going to have to build it back. Heās 37, 38 years old. Heās just past his prime. Iām not saying that heās not still in his prime a little bit, so donāt hate me that bad, but his prime years were spent with Toyota and with the Gibbs organization. These are just facts. You canāt deny this.ā
Petty then declared, āThe thing is Kyle Busch needs to look at Brad Keselowski and see the year that heās having because that may be his future more so than looking at Denny Hamlin or somebody like that and having that type year.ā
Marty Snider, Kyle Petty, and Dale Jarrett via NASCAR YouTube
After winning at Auto Club Speedway, Busch admitted he didn’t expect to win so quickly after joining Richard Childress Racing.
He said, “Truthfully, no. I felt like there was going to be a little bit of a learning experience, a little bit of a growth pattern, but also on the flip side of that I always just kind of looked back and watched some of their results and success that they had last year with Austin, he ran second here last year. And Reddick was super, super fast. And so they were fast at The Clash before they broke. The 8 car was.ā
āItās just been really, really cool and itās been a great piece of ā weāre making history ā but a great piece of opportunity to go out there and continue to win races at a new team with RCR. I canāt say enough about Austin giving me a call, first and foremost, but then Richard and Judy giving me this opportunity to go out here and race for wins. And thankful to be a part of our Lucas Oil Chevrolet team today,ā he concluded.
Busch’s victory is seemingly the last at the Auto Club Speedway in its current formation. Much of the property where the track currently stands was just sold to Hillwood Investment Properties and CBRE Investment Manager. However, Auto Club Speedway still retains ownership of 90 acres and plan “to reduce the size of the [existing] two-mile track to develop a smaller Ā½ mile ‘Next Gen’ short track, and to make room for the ACS Logistics Center.”
It was also a record-breaking win as Busch broke Richard Petty’s record for most consecutive wins with a season. Busch has a win in 19 consecutive NASCAR seasons.
Kyle Busch via NASCAR YouTube
What do you make of Elliot and Larson’s comments regarding Kyle Busch? How successful do you think Busch will be this year?
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