Love and hate: Kyle Busch has a mixed relationship with NASCAR fans

MARTINSVILLE — Love him or hate him, no one can deny the sight of Kyle Busch’s trademark victory celebration — bowing to the fans from the door of the No. 18 M&M’s Toyota — has become a familiar sight on the NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit this year.

And if his eight Sprint Cup wins didn’t provide enough chances to see the 23-year-old Nevada native’s celebration, he has also won nine races in the Nationwide Series and another three in the Craftsman Truck Series.

Despite his success, Busch has had a mixed relationship with the fans all year.

“We started the year decent,” Busch said of his relationship with the fans. “We came into a new situation and I think a lot of fans felt that I was released from Hendrick under the wrong terms. We had a lot of cheers at the beginning. Then Richmond came.”

At Richmond, Busch was running in second behind Dale Earnhardt Jr. with less than 10 laps to go when the two drivers made contact and Earnhardt went spinning into the wall, ultimately finishing 15th.

“It’s never good to wreck the most popular driver in the sport,” Busch said. “We got a lot more boos after that.”

Despite his turbulent relationship with other NASCAR fans in the sport, Busch appreciates his own fans even more.

“I think we are heading in the right direction,” he said. “We’re doing a lot of cool things with the fan club, and I think I have a great relationship with my fans.”

According to Dean Osborne and Rick Rakochy, two racing fans from Saskatchewan, Canada, Busch is a good driver, but is too cocky for their tastes.

“He is one hell of a driver,” Osborne said. “But he is too arrogant. I can’t stand the bowing when he wins. Personally, I’ll never be his fan.”
Rakochy agreed.

“He’ll do things to other drivers and doesn’t appreciate when they do them back,” Rakochy said. “As he won more races, I’ve noticed his real attitude come out more. He needs to not be as arrogant and be more sportsmanlike.”

Osborne does have a few ideas for Busch to become more popular with other fans.

“Just don’t be so cocky,” Osborne said. “I’d probably be the same way if I won that many races, but still — other drivers win races and are not that cocky.”

Despite the opinions of fans like Osborne and Rakochy, Busch doesn’t let his detractors bother him.

“I don’t really pay attention to it,” Busch said. “It is what it is. I’ve got a lot of support from my fans, and there will always be negative fans. They have their own opinions.”