Kurt Busch still wheelman 20 years into rocky career

CHARLOTTE, N.C. » Kurt Busch has been called many things during his tumultuous 20 seasons at NASCAR’s top level. He is ornery, easily unhinged and has lost control of his temper enough times that it nearly derailed his career.

But the most important descriptor for Busch is one often overlooked. He is a wheelman, one of the very best in NASCAR, and in the twilight of his career Busch has a chance to make that his lasting mark.

Busch beat his brother head-to-head for the first time at the Cup level in a dramatic, two-lap overtime shootout at Kentucky Speedway for Busch’s first victory with new team Chip Ganassi Racing. It was the third time Kurt and Kyle Busch have finished 1-2 in a Cup race, but the first time Kurt got the best of his little brother.

The win came a week after a horrible pit call in Daytona cost Busch and the No. 1 team a victory. Busch had slid through a massive accident unscathed to take the lead, and as NASCAR said the race was one lap away from resuming, crew chief Matt McCall called Busch in for a quick pit stop.

A lightning strike seconds later halted all action and the race was eventually called, costing Busch, McCall and Ganassi the victory.

So how sweet it was July 13 when McCall used a late call to change four tires, putting Busch in position to challenge for the Kentucky victory when the race took a sudden turn and headed to overtime. Busch charged hard toward the front, eventually got alongside Kyle and neither refused to budge. Their cars touched, wiggled, Kurt appeared to bang the wall, both seemed to hanging onto the steering wheel as if they were racing for the NASCAR championship.