Chase hopes end in disaster for Kyle Busch

Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Toyota, pits during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 8, 2012 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images)
Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Toyota, pits during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 8, 2012 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images)

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase for the championship has never been kind to Joe Gibbs Racing driver Kyle Busch.  After a career best fifth place finish in 2007, Busch has suffered Chase finishes that were less than memorable.

A bad Chase finish won’t be an issue for Busch this season. As happened in 2009, Busch missed the Chase seeding and won’t be a part of this year’s run for the championship.

Busch came into the Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway in the 12th and final Wild Card spot for the Chase.  Having won three of the last six races at Richmond, it seemed to be a near given that Busch would be able to clinch a spot in the Chase.  As the rain delayed race got underway, Busch seemed in a comfortable position while his nearest rival for the Wild Card spot, Jeff Gordon, was struggling. MORE>>>

Greg Engle
About Greg Engle 7421 Articles
Greg is a published award winning sportswriter who spent 23 years combined active and active reserve military service, much of that in and around the Special Operations community. Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.