I have a confession. For the longest time I loathed Kurt Busch. I’ve called him a cry baby. I’ve called him a spoiled rotten brat. I’ve ridiculed his temper tantrums. I called him out on his treatment of his work colleagues. I’ve disliked his treatment of some members of the press. Let’s just say he was my least favorite NASCAR driver, in the history of NASCAR.
That’s saying a lot, but then why wasn’t I unhappy about Busch’s victory at the STP 500 in Martinsville on Sunday? It all started to change last season when Kurt Busch drove for Furniture Row Racing. Look, there was never any doubt that the dude can drive a race car. His performance in 2013, when he finished 10th for a small single-car team, is all the proof even the most skeptical of race fans would need. In addition to earning over $5,000,000 for Furniture Row Racing, the 2004 Sprint Cup Champion made his way into the 2013 Chase.
For me it was always his off-track issues that bothered me the most. Oh the list of off-track issues was huge. It had cost Kurt Busch his ride with the heavily funded Penske Racing Team. Listing all of Kurt Busch’s suspensions and fines would be so numerous it would probably cause this site to crash. Some lowlights include a $100,000 fine for endangering a crew member at Dover in 2007; a suspension from a race at Pocono in 2012 for bullying Sporting News Reporter Bob Pockrass; and a 2011 profanity laced hissy-fit directed at Penske Racing Director Tom German.
It’s been reported that Kurt Busch went through a somewhat uncomfortable breakup of his marriage (Sadly, what marriage breakup isn’t uncomfortable). It was also reported that Busch was seeking some professional anger management help.
Kurt Busch’s legacy and even his racing career was on the cusp of failure. After his spectacular performance last season with Furniture Row Racing, Busch was signed into the heavily funded Stewart-Haas Racing Team. If Sunday was any indication, he’ll be a force to be reckoned with for the 2014 Chase.
With Busch it was never about his racing talent. Last season I began to look a bit deeper into Kurt Busch and the off track behaviors that don’t always make the newspapers. Kurt Busch is a heck of a lot better person than his persona and my old opinion of him is.
Busch and his partner (Patricia Driscoll who is the President of the Armed Forces Foundation), have raised and given over $75 million for wounded soldiers and their families. Busch has also been a strong advocate for the wounded soldiers, often advocating on their behalf in the US Congress and Department of Defense.
Kurt Busch has been a leader in education of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) co-authoring a children’s book along with a PTSD documentary. Kurt Busch and the organization also filmed the Ron White’s “Salute to Troops” Comedy Special which has been televised on CMT.
You often see Busch on race weekends hanging out with Veterans. You can see the sincerity and the respect he has for these brave men and women. The men and women of the Armed Forces are always at home with Kurt Busch and his race team. He truly has given back to these folks who deserve so much.
In 2013, Kurt Busch received the Maj. General Thomas Sadler Award for his work with Speedway Charities – Texas Chapter. In addition to Speedway Charities and the Armed Forces Foundation, Kurt Busch is also involved in the Victory Junction Gang Camp and the Special Olympics.
Yeah, years ago Sunday’s race would have left a sour taste in my mouth. Not so this past Sunday. When Kurt Busch took the checkered flag home, I smiled. It’s great to see him make such a tremendous comeback, both on the track and off.
Main Photo
On to the Lone Star State we go for the Duck Dynasty 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. My picks:
1) Jimmie Johnson
2) Carl Edwards
3) Kyle Busch
Thank you for reading. Please take a moment to follow me on Twitter – @Jimlaplante. Support LWOS by following us on Twitter – @LastWordOnSport – and “liking” our Facebook page.
Interested in writing for LWOS? We are looking for enthusiastic, talented writers to join our Motor Sports writing team. Visit our “Write for Us” page for very easy details in how you can get started today!
Main Photo Credit:
