NASCAR's Kyle Busch - From Boy to Superstar

Kyle Busch, born in Las Vegas, Nevada on the Maylimitation ruling was enforced by NASCAR which
2nd, 1985 is also known as Shrub as he is themeant that Busch had to wait till he turned 18 to
younger brother of NASCAR driver Kurt Busch. Bycompete on a NASCAR level again. While he waited
age 6, Kyle was already speeding around his family'suntil he was old enough to return to the NASCAR
home in Las Vegas in a makeshift go-kart. His father,tracks, Kyle joined the American Speed Association
Tom Busch, taught the young Kyle the basics inand ran the entire 2002 schedule. He also graduated
racing but until he was tall enough, his father wouldthat year from Durango High School adding more
hold down the gas pedal as Busch would maneuverpride to his parents already bursting cabinet of
the kart around the neighborhood. Because of histrophies as he graduated a year earlier.
family's involvement in racing, it was only natural thatThe next year Busch signed up with Hendrick
Kyle grew up tinkering in garages, building andMotorsports and in that same year, he entered
repairing race cars with his father and older brother.seven NASCAR Busch Series races and managed to
He started driving competitively professionally at agecinch the runner-up finish at Lowe's Motor Speedway
13 and has since awed the world of NASCAR. It tookin his first start. He was also able to win his first
him seven years to compete in the NASCAR premierAutomobile Racing Club of America event in Nashville.
series and he astonished everyone when he wasIn 2004, he then went on to win the Automobile
crowned the youngest winner in series history.Racing Club of America victory on the high banks of
Although he was a racing fiend, his parents madeDaytona International Speedway. All the winnings
sure that he was academically sound and as a result,then made him the youngest top rookie at age 19 in
he was also an honor student in school. His parentsall of the series' history.
also instilled a sense of responsibility in Kyle whichBy the time he reached age 19, Kyle had won his
means that he was taught from an early age tofirst series at Richmond International Raceway,
respect other drivers and to keep his equipment inqualified for six NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races,
shape.selected by team owner Rick Hendrick to replace
Kyle was picking up track championships at the Lastwo-time Cup Series champion, Terry Labonte, for
Vegas Motor Speedway before moving up to latethe No.5 Kellogg's Chevrolets for 2005. He then went
models. His emergence as being victorious madeon to break the record held by Donald Thomas when
important people pay attention to the budding star.he won the Lakewood Speedway race in 1952. Kyle
At age 16 he entered the NASCAR Craftsman Truckmanaged to win at the California Speedway when he
Series at the Indianapolis Raceway Park. He finishedbeat Thomas's record by 4 days. The rest, as they
in ninth place in that race after starting at 23rd.say, is history.
Unfortunately the glory was short lived as an age