Jimmie Johnson expects Kyle Busch to complete track bucket list

Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 18 M&M's Caramel Toyota, signs autographs during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series I Love NY 355 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 5, 2017 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. –Kyle Busch won last Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono to reduce his magic number to one, in terms of active Cup tracks where he hasn’t yet recorded a victory.

All that’s left for Busch is to win a points-paying event at Charlotte, where he has already won the non-points All-Star Race.

Other drivers have come close in recent years. Jeff Gordon retired with one hole in his resume – Kentucky. Tony Stewart lacked Kentucky and Darlington when he hung up his Cup driving shoes.

“I’m so out of touch with stats that I felt like Jeff and Tony were the only guys kind of in that conversation,” said seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson, who is missing wins at Kentucky, Chicagoland and Watkins Glen, the venue for Sunday’s I Love New York 355. “And then last weekend I learned that Kyle is now down to one. And I’m like well, dang, there’s somebody else in the party here.

“And Kyle will get it. I can’t believe he hasn’t won at Charlotte already in a Cup car. It’s safe to say that Kyle is going to be the first one to close out all the tracks, I think, with the way he runs and how good he runs at that track. I still have here (Watkins Glen), Kentucky has been a  disaster for me, Chicago I should have closed a long time ago. I think Kyle, if you’re a betting man, I’d put Kyle as closing out all the tracks first.”

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.