2015 Driver Spotlight Review: Kyle Busch

Kyle Busch 2015 Review

By Richard Tix

2015 Preview

Season Grade: A+

Season Preview: "Even in a bad 2014 season Kyle Busch made a run in the Chase. Will he truly become a title contender in 2015? After a great finish to the 2013 season I thought last year would be the year. Maybe all he needed was a down year to refocus? I think JGR will take a step back in the right direction as will Kyle. I think he could end up with 4-5 wins, 12-14 top 5's, and 20-22 top 10's. As always, it is expected he makes the Chase and I think at this point in his career he needs to be in contention for a title."

Season Review: Kyle getting hurt threw off some of my yearly prediction numbers for him, but these reviews are not about what I predicted, but rather how the driver did. Rowdy still managed to get to my predicted 5 wins and 12 top 5's, but he only managed 16 top 10's in 25 races (which is 64% of the time). So, if you take that in a full season he would have been around 23 if he was on the same pace.

Needless to say, even after missing time 2015 was an amazing year for Rowdy. He won 20% of the time, finished top 5 48% of the time, and top 10 64% of the time in races he ran (25). Many are discrediting his Championship already because it wasn't during 36 races, yet he put up amazing numbers in even less time. If anything, fans should at least recognize he did everything he possibly could to deserve it once NASCAR noted he would be eligible for the Chase if he was top 30 and had at least one win by race 27 of 2015. 

In 25 races he has a better season then Carl Edwards who if he made the final four no one would have complained...He also had arguably the same success as teammate Matt Kenseth, who no one would have complained about if he made the finale and won (Kyle had the same amount of wins and top 5's with only 4 fewer top 10's then Kenseth). 

Sure, it will not always be the strongest season long driver to win (neither are most sports), but that is what makes sports fun and exciting. Sure, it isn't fair, but people would get sick of knowing the Champ with four races left if we went back to just points racing (obviously some season's we would have close finishes).

So, after 11 years of the Chase can we start to move on? We are not going back and we need to celebrate a guy like Kyle Busch who fought through a ton of adversity to win his first Cup Championship. Congrats Rowdy, you did in fact earn it!

Previous Driver Spotlights

2014 Driver Spotlight Review: Matt Kenseth

Matt Kenseth 2014 Review

By Richard Tix

Season Preview

Season Grade: B

Year two for Matt Kenseth at JGR. First up, lets take a look at my preview of 2014:

"So, normally you would figure year two a team can get stronger, but is that possible? I do think that even though Kenseth was strong he has room for improvement in 2014. The #20 team seemed to be inconsistent at times and blazing fast others. In 2014 it is very possible he will post more top 5's and 10's but might fall off in the wins category and yet it could be a good thing. Consistency is what matters at the end of the day as long as you can get a few wins in the Chase." -Season Preview

If you are wondering, Matt Kenseth in fact did have less win's in 2014, more top 5's, and more top 10's. He was consistent and it almost paid off in 2014 (even without a win). However, the key part of my preseason statement was "as long as you can get a few wins in the Chase." That didn't happen and Kenseth finished 7th in points to end the year.

It was pretty obvious going into 2014 that he wouldn't have as many wins as he did in 2013 (7), but I don't think anyone thought he would end up win-less in 2014. Overachieving with a new team in 2013 might be part of it. JGR having fast cars in 2013 might have been part of it. JGR having slower cars in 2014 might have been part of it. Heck, maybe Matt Kenseth is starting to get past his prime?

One thing is for sure, Kenseth just wasn't dominate in 2014. He was a front runner in many races as he proved with his 13 top 5's, 22 top 10's (most since 2007), and two Pole Awards. So not all was lost in 2014, but that zero in the win column (first time since 2010) will eat at Matt all offseason.

• List of Past Driver Sporlights

Birthday Brad

2012 NASCAR Champion Brad Keselowski Birthday Article

Brad Keselowski turn's 30 years old

By Richard Tix

I don't do many Birthday articles on NASCAR Behind the Wall but I am today. I tend to stay pretty unbiased in my articles on here, because this is a blog for the Sport and the Fans, but this article is made up mostly for other BK fans. I am a fan of BK so he gets the birthday nod here today. For the big 30 (turned 32 now, this was from two years ago) NASCAR Behind the Wall is going to take a look back at his 2012 Championship Season in Photos. 

Food City 500 Bristol Motor Speedway

BK's first win of 2012 at Bristol Motor Speedway 3/18/12

Brad started of his 2012 campain by getting his first win of the season at the 4th race of the year. He lead almost half of the race (232 of 500 laps) after starting the day out in 5th.

Aarons 499 Talladega Superspeedway

BK Wins at Talladega 5/6/12. Aarons 499

Brad started the Aarons 499 out in 13th position and stayed out of harms way all day. He only lead 10 total laps but he lead the most important one, the last one. The Aarons 499 was BK's 2nd win of 2012.

Quaker State 400 Kentucky Speedway

Brad started the night off in 8th position after qualifying. He lead the second most laps on the night, 68. (Kyle lead the most with 118). After Kentucky BK went on to finish in the top 10 6 races in a row. 

Geico 400 Chicagoland Speedway

The first Chase race of 2012 started off with a bang for Brad Keselowski. BK entered Chicagoland with 3 wins on the season and left with his 4th and his first in the Chase. 

AAA 400 Dover International Speedway

Just one race (Loudon) went by before Brad got his second win of the Chase, fifth and final of the 2012 season. He only lead 14 laps in the race but finished the last lap up front where it matters.

Homestead 2012

Brad Keselowski finished the last race of the season at Homestead 15th but left the track the newest Sprint Cup Champion. This Championship was his first in a very short career to that point and also Rodger Penske's first NASCAR Championship. It would also be Dodge's last year in NASCAR as Penske moved to Ford. 

Happy Birthday Brad Keselowski! Good Luck in 2015!