3 THINGS TO WATCH
1. 200 in sight
Kyle Busch, 31, said one of his career goals as a NASCAR driver was to become the winningest driver in stock-car history. As of now, Richard Petty holds the record with 200 NASCAR Cup Series victories. Don’t chill the champagne just yet, but Busch is creeping up on “The King.” If you add up Busch’s Cup, Xfinity and Camping World Truck series victories, he is at 171, including a record 87 Xfinity wins.
2. Loopy stats
A few times each season, NASCAR This Week steps into the world of Loop Statistics looking for unusual competition numbers. According to NASCAR scoring, Brad Keselowski leads the driver ratings, followed by Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott. Kevin Harvick leads in laps led at 419, with Kyle Busch hot on his heels at 413. Neither has won a race. Elliott and Trevor Bayne sit atop the category of laps run on the lead lap.
3. On deck
After a week off to relax, NASCAR heads to Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend and gets back into the racing groove. The driver who has most recently dominated Bristol’s spring race (two wins in three starts), Carl Edwards, is not suited up this season. Still, since 2010 this race has produced a variety of winners, including Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Kasey Kahne and Matt Kenseth. Have at it, boys.