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SPORTS Tuesday 12 March 2019

Kyle Busch nears milestone 200th NASCAR victory

By DAVE SKRETTA "It's pretty incredible, hon-
AP Sports Writer estly, with what he's done in
PHOENIX (AP) — Joe Gibbs the modern day to be able
has spent his career watch- to do that," said Joey Loga-
ing Hall of Fame-caliber no, one of his former team-
athletes ply their trades, mates. "I know he's got a lot
whether as the Super of Cup wins to go with the
Bowl-winning coach of the Xfinity and Truck wins, but
Washington Redskins or the the Cup wins, to me, are
title-winning owner of a the most impressive part —
race team. that he's able to do that."
In his mind, what separates After a couple of feeling-
them from a run-of-the-mill out rides for Hendrick Mo-
star is an insatiable will to torsports in 2004, Busch
succeed, the kind of drive jumped into a full-time ride
that allows them to reach and never really looked
the next level. They set back. He won twice in
goals, sometimes absurdly 2005, finished in the top
difficult to achieve, and 10 in points the following
then spend every ounce of season and continued his
sweat and blood to reach march toward the pinna-
them. cle of his sport.
Goals like 200 wins in NAS- He moved to Joe Gibbs
CAR's top three series. Racing in 2008 and really
With Kyle Busch one win caught fire, winning seven
away from that milestone times, and he captured the
following his weekend series championship four
sweep of the Xfinity and years ago by winning the
Cup series races at ISM year-end race at Home- Kyle Busch tosses his son Brexton in the air after winning the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at ISM
Raceway, his 78-year-old stead. Just about the only Raceway, Sunday, March 10, 2019, in Avondale, Ariz.
owner is ready to group trophy he's missing from his Associated Press
him with the elites. case is the Daytona 500.
"I think he's driven by big Busch has built a has been among the fast- greats is a worthy debate. what to say that I've not al-
things like that, by records," 77,000-square foot facility est cars in the Cup Series for Richard Petty won a record ready said. It's a goal I set
Gibbs said. "I know how that houses his own race years, regardless of engine, 200 times in its top series, out a long, long time ago."
bad he wants to win every team, along with most of body or rules changes. though that was a differ- He doesn't remember ex-
race because I can pick up the hardware he's won He also finds time to dote ent era. The King is tied with actly when, but chances
from him talking how bad over the years. Trophies are on his wife, Samantha, and Dale Earnhardt and Jimmie are it came when he began
he wants things. He's driven stacked upon top of other son Brexton, hoisting him up Johnson with seven cham- racking up victories with
by trying to do something trophies, and the cases in victory lane on Sunday. pionships apiece. And Gibbs' team. And it hardly
great, so I think it'll be a big that house his Bristol wins "I guess the fact that's im- more obscure records such surprises Busch's owner that
deal for him." are particularly full. pressive to me is he owns his as lead-lap finishes are held he not only set such an au-
Busch will have two op- "We've got our fair share of own truck and he's running by Jeff Gordon, himself a dacious goal, but that the
portunities to reach the trophy cases we've gone his own race team there. four-time Cup champion. 33-year-old driver is already
milestone this weekend at through," he said with a That's impressive," Logano Then again, Busch has close to accomplishing it.
Auto Club Speedway in smile, "and every time we said. "It's hard to do and been able to win in just "I just think he's an unusual
Fontana, California. He will get a new one we seem to it's something I don't ever about anything with talent," Gibbs said, "and all
be back in his Xfinity ride fill it up. They're all over the really want to do. Obvious- wheels, and the brother of of us that watch sports, me
seeking his third straight place." ly, when he's running the Cup Series driver Kurt Busch included, enjoy watching
win in the series, then will So is Busch. His successful Gibbs Xfinity cars they're so is competing in arguably those unbelievable ath-
hop in his No. 18 Toyota to Truck Series program soaks fast, and he's able to stack the most competitive age letes, and we ask, 'How
chase his 53rd win in NAS- up plenty of time, especial- them up there as well, and in the sport's history. does that happen?' He can
CAR's top series — a far cry ly when he slips behind the he's not too bad in the Cup "You know, we've been just drive the thing when it's
from when "Rowdy" made wheel for a weekend. He Series." talking about it for a long several degrees past where
his Trucks Series debut as a usually runs the maximum Where he will ultimately time," he said of 200 wins, a normal person can drive
16-year-old in 2001. number of Xfinity races. He stack up among NASCAR "and certainly, I don't know it, and it's just a gift."q