Kyle Busch: Joe Gibbs Racing is moving in the right direction

CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 10: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Doublemint Toyota, talks with crew chief Dave Rogers during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 10, 2014 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 10:  Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Doublemint Toyota, talks with crew chief Dave Rogers during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 10, 2014 in Charlotte, North Carolina.  (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC – OCTOBER 10: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Doublemint Toyota, talks with crew chief Dave Rogers during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 10, 2014 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images)

CONCORD, N.C.— Step by step, Kyle Busch says, Joe Gibbs Racing is making progress.

He just hopes the organization, and his No. 18 Toyota team specifically, has come far enough to go the distance when the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup arrives at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

With a third-place finish in the first race in the Chase’s Contender Round last Sunday at Kansas Speedway, Busch took over second place in the Sprint Cup standings and enters Saturday night’s Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway with some breathing room.

Busch took full advantage in Thursday night’s qualifying session, winning the pole for the fifth Chase race.

The effort in qualifying was another indication of the progress JGR is making as a team as the Chase unfolds.

“With the way the eliminations are, yes I would believe we’re edging our way towards the top,” Busch said of the organization’s prospects for a championship. “Anything can happen in this game. I believe it’s a fickle business, so you just have to pick through it all. And 500 miles here at Charlotte–we hope to have a good race here.

“We have had good races here in the past and, first things first, you shoot for top-10 and then you shoot for top-five, and if you’re in position you try to go after that victory and punch your ticket right on through and get yourself automatically into the Eliminator Round… You have to take things one step at a time.”

With the Chase approaching its midpoint, Busch seems more confident than ever in his footing, though he had difficulty dialing in the No. 18 Camry in Friday’s final practice, recording the 15th fastest speed in the session.

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.