Is Kyle Busch Still Viewed as NASCAR’s Villain?

In his second points event driving the No. 8 Richard Childress Racing, Kyle Busch won in the 2.0-mile Auto Club Speedway’s final event in Fontana, Calif. on Sunday (Feb. 26). Busch’s 61st career NASCAR Cup Series moved him past Kevin Harvick to solely claim ninth place among the all-time winners.

Now at the ripe old age of 37 years old, Busch is embarking on a new chapter in his career, including switching manufacturers for not only his day job, but also his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team.

Given the somewhat warm reception upon exiting his car at the start/finish line Sunday, and what can best be called uncharacteristically generous demeanor in his interviews during his first season with Richard Childress Racing, is Kyle Busch still NASCAR’s villain? Anthony Damcott and Mark Kristl debate in this week’s installment of 2-Headed Monster.

Busch Isn’t a Villain, He’s an Emotional Racer

Busch is no longer NASCAR’s villain.

Truth be told, he was fine with occupying the role – see his post-race gesture after he won at Chicagoland Speedway in 2018.

Yet a new wave crashed into the NASCAR storylines in 2022.

Ross Chastain made Denny Hamlin mad, but Chastain ultimately won out with his “Hail Melon” move to advance to the Championship 4. Chastain also earned his first NASCAR Cup Series victory with an aggressive last-lap pass on AJ Allmendinger.

Joey Logano won the throwback event at Darlington Raceway via a bump-and-run on William Byron. The immediate displeasure within Hendrick Motorsports faded as Byron never retaliated. Byron, however, did spin Hamlin under caution at Texas Motor Speedway, adding another storyline.

Bubba Wallace made even more headlines when he wrecked Kyle Larson, then shoved him for good measure.

Where was Busch amidst these storylines? He was in a seemingly never-ending saga surrounding his pending free agency. On track, he took home one trophy, somewhat gifted to him after Chase Briscoe and Tyler Reddick tangled on the final lap on the dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Busch’s free agency was a bigger headline than anything he did on track, including scoring only one Truck Series win to add to his all-time series record.

Now he’s with RCR. His Truck Series team features new drivers and the uncertainty of whether it will immediately reclaim its winning ways as it did as Toyota’s flagship factory effort. The fan base is interested in those questions, not whether his…