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SPORTS Tuesday 19 March 2019
Kyle Busch’s mark stands on its own not vs Petty’s

By JENNA FRYER There’s no denying that
AP Auto Racing Writer Busch is a polarizing figure
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — among fans.
Kyle Busch has 200 NAS- Many love his passion and
CAR national series wins, drive — he didn’t hide his
the same number as Rich- disappointment in finish-
ard Petty, and the totals will ing second in the Daytona
never stack up equally into 500, which was a 1-2-3 Joe
a pair of neat columns that Gibbs Racing sweep and a
make for an easy debate monumental celebration
between the two. for the organization. Be-
The wins can never be cause Busch didn’t win, he
compared because they didn’t really feel like party-
were in different eras, un- ing.
der different NASCAR rules Other fans find him abra-
and against dramatically sive, accuse him of being
different levels of competi- a poor loser and discredit
tion. Petty and Busch were a bulk of those 200 victo-
born 48 years apart, and ries because they came in
Busch didn’t even meet the lower series against drivers
minimum age requirement climbing the developmen-
to compete in NASCAR un- tal ladder. He beat whoev-
til 11 years after Petty’s re- er lined up on the track with
tirement. him, same as Petty did, and
So what is with the obses- Kyle Busch celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Auto Club Speedway, in it is a stretch to claim Petty
sive handwringing in com- Fontana, Calif., Sunday, March 17, 2019. always beat the very best
paring the statistics? Associated Press in NASCAR. His 1960 vic-
Busch on Sunday collect- than third in seven races. Trucks, Xfinity and Cup, you no matter how his 200 vic- tory at Orange Speedway
ed his 200th checkered His stops in hometown Las are wearing your body out tories are sliced and diced, in Hillsborough featured all
flag with a victory at Auto Vegas, Phoenix and finally every day going after it,” he already rates as one of of 18 cars, eight of which
Club Speedway in Califor- California netted back-to- Kurt Busch said after visit- NASCAR’s all-time greats. didn’t finish the race, and
nia. Petty won all 200 of back Cup wins, two Xfin- ing his little brother in vic- Is he the greatest? That’s Petty was the only driver on
his races at the Cup level. ity Series victories and a tory lane. “Anytime I’ve run an argument without an the lead lap at the finish.
Busch’s win at Fontana was runner-up finish and a Truck Xfinity and then have to go answer. There’s zero con- Busch seems to fall in the
the 53rd of his Cup career, Series win at Vegas. back it up (the next day) sensus as to who holds that same category as Johnson,
but accompanies 53 Truck For those keeping score at with a Cup race, it puts a title, be it Petty, Dale Earn- who won a record five con-
Series victories and 94 in the home, his average finish toll on your body. He just hardt or Jimmie Johnson, all secutive Cup titles — seven
Xfinity Series — both records was 1.42 in seven events keeps going and going. I seven-time champions. Da- total championships in 11
for NASCAR’s minor league spanning three series. am proud of him.” vid Pearson won 105 races, years — but has been un-
national series. His older brother, the 2004 So just remove Petty from beating Petty in many of derappreciated despite his
Win No. 200 came a day series champion, succinctly the discussion. His 200 Cup them, so he deserves men- dominance. Johnson’s ac-
after he finished second summarized just how im- victories are a record that tion, as does four-time complishments have often
in the Xfinity race and probable Busch’s accom- will never be broken, and champion Jeff Gordon, been taken for granted,
capped a three-week West plishments are on a weekly Busch did not break or even who debuted in Petty’s fi- and perhaps another driver
Coast road trip in which basis. tie that mark. What Busch nale then blazed his own will come along one day
Busch never finished lower “When you are running did stands on its own and, Hall of Fame career. and equal his feats.q

Harper returns after bruising ankle, still hitless in spring

lies newcomer with the a walk. The star outfielder Batting third, Harper took
$330,000,000 deal was hit- will play in a minor league a called third strike on a 96
less Sunday, leaving him game Monday, take Tues- mph fastball from James
with a batting average of day off and return to a Paxton in the first. Harper
.000 in spring training. major league game on then grounded out to short-
His goal for the final week in Wednesday. stop on another 96 mph of-
Florida? “Definitely getting On Friday, Harper was hit in fering from the left-hander.
a couple knocks,” Harper the right ankle by a 96 mph “The timing, definitely a
said. “I don’t want to leave fastball from Toronto rookie little behind right now,”
spring without a hit but if Trent Thornton and left the Harper said. “A little late on
that happens, then March game. The decision to let some of the pitches against
28, here we come,” Harper Harper play Sunday came Paxton today. It’s going to
said. after a pregame workout be a process.”
Philadelphia Phillies’ Bryce Harper high-fives teammates after
being taken out during the third inning of a spring training That’s the day Philadelphia that included running and Harper, who agreed to a
baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Saturday, March opens the regular season, hitting. 13-year contract in late
9, 2019, in Clearwater, Fla. at home against the NL East “Felt good,” Harper said. “It February — almost two
Associated Press champion Atlanta Braves. was shocking I came in yes- weeks after spring training
CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — his contract. Harper returned as the des- terday and not really any began — Harper struck out
Bryce Harper hopes to Back in the lineup two ignated hitter against the swelling, no bruising. Glad swinging on a 90 mph pitch
change all those zeros days after being hit by a split-squad New York Yan- I was able to get out there from Dellin Betances in the
soon. Naw, not the ones in pitch in the ankle, the Phil- kees and went 0 for 3 with and feel pretty normal.” sixth.q