Top 10 Facts about Kyle Busch

Kyle Busch photo by Zach Catanzareti-Wikimedia Commons.

Top 10 Facts about Kyle Busch

Kyle Thomas Busch is an American professional stock car racing driver and team owner.

However, he currently competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series driving number 8 Chevrolet Camaro for Richard Childress Racing and, part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driving the number 51 Chevrolet Silverado for Kyle Busch Motorsports.

Kyle is the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series champion and the 2015 and 2019 Cup Series champion not only that he is also a one-time WWE 24/7 Champion.

Moreover, he is the younger brother of the 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series champion and current NASCAR Cup Series driver and in turn fellow competitor Kurt Busch.

Interestingly he is nicknamed “Rowdy” and “Wild Thing” for driving style “The Candy Man” due to his longtime sponsorship with Mars Incorporated and the self-titled “KFB”. So here are the top 10 facts about Kyle Busch.

1. Kyle Busch was born in Las Vegas Nevada

Kyle Busch photo by TaurusEmerald-Wikimedia Commons.

Kyle was born in Las Vegas Nevada and his first driving lessons came at the age of 6 when he drove around the Cul-de-sac of his family’s Las Vegas neighborhood in a makeshift go-kart.

Although at that age he could not reach the throttle but he was able to pick up the basics from his father Tom who controlled the gas pedal as Kyle drove the Vehicle.

However, he worked in the family garage with his father and older brother Kurt as he grew becoming crew chief for his brother’s dwarf car team at the age of ten.  

2. He began his Driving career in the Year 1998

Kyle Busch photo by RE1851-Wikimedia Commons.

Kyle began his career in 1998 shortly after his 13^th birthday from the year 1999 through 2001 however he won over 65 races in legends car racing winning two track championships at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Bullring short track before moving to late models.

Moreover, he scored ten victories in late model competition at the building during the 2001 season.

At the age of 16, he began competing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driving the number 99 Ford for Roush Racing as a replacement for Nathan Haseleu who was released midway through the 2001 season.

He made his debut at Indianapolis Raceway Park posing a 9^th place finish in his first race in the series. In his second race at Chicago Motor Speedway, he was leading until his truck ran out of fuel with 12 laps to go.

3. Kyle Busch was prohibited from Racing at the CART FedEx Championship Series because he was Underage to represent Events sponsored by Tobacco companies

Kyle Busch photo by Nascarking-Wikimedia Commons.

Kyle was the fastest in practice for the 2001 Auto Club 200 at California Speedway in Fontana CA when he was informed he was not allowed to participate in events at the track due to the fact that the CART FedEx Championships Series running at the track the same weekend had its race sponsored by Marlboro cigarettes.

He was decreed ineligible to compete due to an interpretation of the Master’s Settlement Agreement of 1998 prohibiting people under 18 years of age from participating in events sponsored by tobacco companies.

Therefore, Tim Woods III replaced Kyle in the number 99 Ford for the event and finished 25^th however he competed in a total of six races in the truck series in 2001 finishing 9^th twice at IRP and at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

4. He holds several Records in NASCAR competition

Kyle Busch photo by
Zach Catanzareti Photo-Wikimedia Commons.

Kyle holds several records in NASCAR competition including the most race wins in a season across the top three NASCAR series in the modern era with 24 wins which were accomplished in 2010.

He holds the record for most all-time wins in all three of NASCAR’s national touring series with 223 as of April 17^th, 2022.

Moreover, he holds the record for the most Xfinity Series wins in a season with 13 in 2010 and the most overall with 102.

As of 2022, he is the only driver in history to have 60 wins in each of NASCAR’s top 3 series.

5. At the age of 19, he became NASCAR’s Youngest pole winner in a Cup Series race at California Speedway

At the age of 19 and 317 days, Kyle became NASCAR’s youngest-ever pole winner in a Cup Series at California Speedway in 2005.

He is the youngest driver to qualify for the Chase for the Sprint Cup in 2006. Moreover, he became the first driver to win a race and a championship in a Toyota in the Cup Series winning at Atlanta Motor Speedway during the 2008 season and the 2015 Cup championship.

In addition, he is the only driver to win four straight spring races at Richmond International Raceway from 2009 to 2012 and was also the inaugural winner of the first Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway in 2011.

6. Kyle Busch was one of the American drivers under consideration to drive for the US bases Formula One team US F1

Kyle was one of the several American drivers under consideration to drive for the US-based Formula One team US F1.

However, he declined the offer stating that the timing was wrong, and the team folded due to economic issues without ever competing in a race.

He was scheduled to test drive a Toyota F1 car at the end of the 2008 racing season but was forced to cancel the test due to his commitment to attend the 2008 Nationwide Series banquet.

7. He was the Second of three people to ever win on their Birthday

When Kyle won the 2009 Crown Presents the Russell Friedman 400 at Richmond International Raceway as he turned 24 he was the second of just three people to ever win on their birthday.

Twelve years later on his 36^th birthday, he won the Buschy McBucsch Race 400 at Kansas Speedway. By winning for the second time on his birthday he joined Cale Yarborough as the only two drivers to win on their birthday twice.

8. Kyle Busch founded the Kyle Busch Foundation

In the year 2006 Kyle founded the Kyle Busch Foundation following a visit to the St. John’s Home in Grand Rapids Michigan.

According to the foundation “The Kyle Busch Foundation is dedicated to providing essential tools for less fortunate children throughout the country”.

He also has personal sponsorship deals in place with Monster Energy and Electric Visual with both appearing on his late model at one time or another.

Furthermore, after Kyle’s first Cup Series win in California on September 4^th, 2005 he and car owner Rick Hendrik donated their winning shares from that race to the American Red Cross to help benefit those in need after Hurricane Katrina and because of this Kyle had an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show which during the interview he announced the donations which gained huge public attention and praise.

9. He co-owns Rowdy Energy with Beverage entrepreneur Jeff Church

Rowdy Energy is a drink industry business based out of Del Mar California that specializes in energy drinks.

However, the business is co-owned by Kyle Busch who founded it with beverage entrepreneur Jeff Church in 2019.

The drink is named after Busch’s nickname “Rowdy” and it was launched in 2019 by both Busch and Jeff Church who had co-founded Suja juice in 2012.

The drinks are available online in ten flavors including seven sugar-free options that are Keto certified.

Rowdy branding was first spotted at a race track during Busch’s 2020 24 Hours of Daytona performance when in the opening hour Busch was seen with a can of the Cherry Limeade flavor and wearing a Rowdy Energy branded hat.

10. Kyle Busch is a Professional Wrestling fan

Kyle is a professional wrestling fan and he has also appeared on WWE programming several times including guest hosting Monday Night Raw in 2009 and 10 years later on the same program on December 2^nd, 2019.

However, during the latter appearance, he won the WWE 24/7 Championship pinning R-Truth a professional wrestler for WWE with fellow NASCAR personality Michael Waltrip as special guest referee.

Moreover, that event was part of a cross-promotion with NBC sports with NASCAR’s prize-giving banquet.