NASCAR’s Kyle Busch – From Kid to Superstar

Kyle Busch, born in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 2, 1985, is also known as Shrub, as he is the younger brother of NASCAR driver Kurt Busch. At age 6, Kyle was already speeding around his family’s Las Vegas home in a makeshift go-kart. His father, Tom Busch, taught young Kyle the basics of racing, but until he was tall enough, his father would hold the throttle while Busch maneuvered the kart around the neighborhood. Because of his family’s involvement in racing, it was natural for Kyle to grow up playing in garages, building and repairing race cars with his father and his older brother.

He began driving competitively at age 13 and has wowed the NASCAR world ever since. It took him seven years to compete in NASCAR’s premier series and shocked everyone when he was crowned the youngest winner in series history. Although he was a fan of racing, his parents ensured that he was academically strong, and as a result, he was also an honor student in school. His parents also instilled a sense of responsibility in Kyle, which means that from a young age they taught him to respect other drivers and to keep his equipment in shape.

Kyle was collecting track championships at Las Vegas Motor Speedway before moving up to the late models. The appearance of him as the victor made important people pay attention to the budding star. At age 16 he entered the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Indianapolis Raceway Park. He finished in ninth place in that race after starting 23rd. Unfortunately, the glory was short-lived as NASCAR enforced an age limitation rule, which meant Busch had to wait until he was 18 to race again. on a NASCAR level. While waiting until he was old enough to return to NASCAR tracks, Kyle joined the American Speed ​​Association and raced the entire 2002 schedule. He also graduated that year from Durango High School adding further pride to his parents. which were already loaded with trophies when he graduated a year early.

The following year, Busch signed up with Hendrick Motorsports and that same year entered seven NASCAR Busch Series races, securing second place at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in his first start. He was also able to win his first Automobile Racing Club of America event in Nashville. In 2004, he then took victory for the Automobile Racing Club of America on the high embankments of Daytona International Speedway. All of his earnings made him the youngest rookie at age 19 in all of series history.

By the time he turned 19, Kyle had won his first series at Richmond International Raceway, qualified for six NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races, selected by team owner Rick Hendrick to replace two-time Cup Series champion, Terry Labonte, for Kellogg’s No. 5 Chevrolet for 2005. He then broke Donald Thomas’ record when he won the Lakewood Speedway race in 1952. Kyle managed to win at California Speedway when he beat Thomas’ record by 4 days. The rest, as they say, is history.

Kyle Busch now lives in North Carolina with his two dogs and his girlfriend Ashley Deihl. The 22-year-old also enjoys other sports like surfing, buggies and watching football like any other boy his age. He has also started a foundation aimed at helping less fortunate children across the country. The Kyle Busch Foundation aims to help organizations that are involved in building better and safer environments for these children.