Explosiveness Is A Glorious Trademark For Joe Gibbs Racing; Tailor Fit For Kyle Busch

Joe Gibbs Racing president J.D. Gibbs said all the right things, as did Kyle Busch.

That was to be expected, without a doubt.

But no matter how many times Gibbs mentioned Busch’s wit, sense of humor and joking personality during the press conference Tuesday introducing him as the latest addition to the JGR Nextel Cup stable, you know inside he had to be just bursting to say what really should be said but can’t be said. 

Joe Gibbs Racing has added another explosive, unpredictable, seemingly untamable wheel man to it’s a lineup and that’s a beautiful thing for the Nextel Cup Series.

Not that anybody should be looking to steal any financing from Boris Said, but Gibbs and company should be lining up Said’s sponsor for naming rights to the Gibbs Racing headquarters in Huntersville, N.C.

The No Fear Race Shop, as in, nothing scares the Gibbs gang about playing with fire.

More and more it seems that Joe Gibbs Racing is in the business of bottling raging firestorms and letting that raw emotion power the motor of success.

And if you’re in that business, you have to know every now and again, some of the caustic flames of that inferno are going to seep through the cracks and be exposed to the world. If it’s that inferno that powers the concentrated drive to be the best, you have to be able to live with the fact that scorched landscape is going to be left in many spots along the trail of achievement.

And more than any other team in the Nextel Cup garage, Joe Gibbs Racing has proved they can handle the heat, and even thrive in the center of the fire. 

In his years at JGR Tony Stewart has proved that he excels when chaos is at its peak. Controversy only seems to fuel his streaking ways. And Denny Hamlin has shown he’s no slouch when it comes to the speaking his mind department.

And now there’s Busch. The Shrub. One half of the Las Vegas bred brother duo that so many Nextel Cup fans love to hate. Mouthy and cocksure off the track, with an absolutely take no prisoners attitude on it. The 180 degree opposite of so many of the points racing, marketing centric robo-drivers filling so many seats in the Nextel Cup today.

Could Busch’s move have been any more perfect? Don’t want to be the lone stick of dynamite on a team full of sparklers and bang snaps? Then go race for the TNT factory.

“I think he's really passionate about what he does,’ Gibbs said. “He does really remind me a lot of Tony, which is kind of frightening, but I think at the same time we have a great relationship with Tony and we think we'll have the same thing for Kyle.”

The beauty of Busch is that through all of his misfortunes, through the all PR landmines he’s stepped on, he’s never denied his personality. Never tried to convince people that’s he something other than what he shows on the track.

“The biggest thing is I'm a passionate person,” Busch said. “You know, I really like to win races. I really like to bring home trophies and stuff like that. When I don't, I'm upset about it. I'm not going to be happy for finishing second.  I'm not going to be happy for finishing third.  I'm going to be very disappointed in myself for whatever happens when I wreck a race car or something like that."

Sure he wants to be more accepted by fans. Sure he doesn’t want to be the guy getting booed unmercifully week after week. But it seems he won’t compromise hiding his personality as a trade-off. And it doesn’t sound as if hiding that passion is something Gibbs wants Busch to do.

“How do you balance being careful of what you say and the way you act with really showing who you are?” Gibbs said. “That's a hard thing to figure out. For Kyle, he came into the sport as young as he was, that takes a while. I'm still figuring it out and I'm 38. I think for those guys to really kind of get a feel for ‘How much do I show of my own personality versus how much can I control and be careful what I say?’  That's hard to do.

“I do love the fact that we let our guys be themselves.  . . . Don’t try to change the way you are. You might have to be careful what you say.  Just because you're thinking it doesn't mean everyone needs to hear it.  I learned that from my dad. I still need to work on that one.”

Let the fires rage on in Huntersville, let Joe Gibbs Racing be the silver and black Oakland Raiders of NASCAR, because the Nextel Cup Series is only better for the fact that authenticity is allowed to shine through - good and bad - under the Gibbs Racing banner.

Shawn Courchesne, 12:24 a.m.

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Comments

[OldSchool]

Spot on Shawn.
It is truly sad to see how Kurt Busch has been tamed by the new NASCAR. He went through the grinder from hell and came out a Rouschketeer in the end anyway. A spirit broken.

[Jodi]

I think Kyle will fit in just fine at JGR. I also give JD and Joe a great deal of credit to not be afraid to let their drivers be who they are. Yes sometimes it gets them into some trouble, but as a fan of Tony's I wouldn't want him any other way. Watch out Hendrick boys!!!!!!

[Funky D]

With Tony, Denny, and Kyle, JGR has mixed 3 powerful, energetic, but tricky compounds into a very potent rocket fuel. If it works, it will take them to the moon, but it could also explode into mass carnage. Kudos to Joe and JD for going for it. No doubt that these guys will put JGR in the forefront of media coverage one way or the other (probably both!).

Home Depot and FedEx have proven that they can take a driver who is not necessarily a corporate-spokesman type and still use him in effective marketing. Rather than transform his personality, they put it to good use. The ads for both companies have a bit of attitude mixed in with the marketing and (other than Mikey's great NAPA ads) are the most watchable commercials during the races. Other sponsors could learn a lesson from them.

[Tony]

Nice column. But, believe it or not, a driver can be passionate and still have class. What we see from "smoke" and KB most of the time is a lack thereof. There is a difference between passion and temper tantrums. Jeff Burton is a perfect example of having class and passion. He speaks his mind, pulls no punches, and does so with dignity. Perfect example was after the Busch race Saturday. Same way with Dale Jr after detonating a motor Sunday. He told the world it was probably his fault and even though he felt gut-shot and was at the lowest of lows, he exemplifies what class is by not throwing rocks or tantrums.

[20 / 20 Vision]

Funky D

If you go to an action movie, you don't necessarily want to see Oprah fixing her leggings... you want to see Bruce Willis shooting his gun... if you want boring corporate stuff, I can give you a management job somewhere... I have enough politically correct garbagio to deal with on a daily basis in my own life that when it comes to entertainment, I need a break... Rock on tony... let's wreck the drive for 5 and make it the Quest for 3!

[Tony]

I deal with spoiled, ignorant a-holes that think the world evolves around them everday, 20/20 vision, so i like a little civility and class with my entertainment.... although i see your point of view. Maybe you should count your blessings in your personal life of having the burden of being around the politically correct.