It’s the question that’s dividing NASCAR fans all over the world. Should Kyle Busch be eligible for The Chase despite missing three months of the season through injury?
Well, yes of course he should be eligible. Kyle missed those races through no fault of his own, it was down to NASCAR and Daytona who had not made the circuit as safe as it could be. Far from being pilloried Kyle should be lauded for his brilliant driving since he returned in May, the fact he came back so soon is incredible as it is.
I suspect many of those who are in the “no camp” are anti-Kyle Busch whatever he does. He’s certainly a driver that fans seem to love or hate so these people are probably speaking with an agenda against him. Kyle himself would be the first to admit he has done wrong in the past but, now settled with wife Samantha and baby son Brexton he seems at ease with himself for the first time and comes over as a decent guy in interviews.
The Chase is supposed to be about winning yet, last year we nearly had a champion who didn’t win a race in Ryan Newman. Kyle has three wins already and one would expect him to get another one at least before the chase grid is set. Surely it’s better to have a driver with 3 or 4 wins to be in there rather than a non-winner? It takes away the whole point of the Chase if winning isn’t recognised.
NASCAR fans are notoriously loyal to their drivers and once they have it in their heads to dislike a driver nothing will change their minds. Now in some ways you have to applaud how much they care about the sport but again, not giving a driver credit when deserved is wrong.
Kyle’s Daytona wreck was a wake up call for NASCAR and circuits are now increasing safety by extending safer barriers. Would this have happened without Kyle’s wreck is the burning question.
We have seen in the tragic deaths of Jules Bianchi and two AMA riders in the last few days that every driver’s next race could be there last. Kyle Busch deserves a place in the chase should he qualify and given the recent tragedies, it can only be hoped that NASCAR fans give him the credit he deserves.
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