Kyle Busch: Gentleman?

NASCAR 'Bad Boy' Kyle Busch shows his gentleman side in a go-kart
By Brian VanOchten | The Grand Rapids Press
May 11, 2010, 9:30PM

I got spun out by Kyle Busch.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup star has done the same to just about everyone else on the top circuit in stock car racing, so why should I be any different, right?

In the end, though, I ended up getting the best of Busch -- albeit in a go-kart.

Busch made a pit stop in West Michigan on Tuesday to the absolute delight of a few hundred fans who showed up to get his autograph, shake hands and pose for pictures at Craig's Cruisers Family Fun Center, 5730 Clyde Park Ave. SW.

The engaging 25-year-old mingled with the media and then hit the slick indoor track to compete against some of his fans in go-karts.

The huge smiles and laughs from the folks getting passed by one of NASCAR's biggest and brightest starts made for a fun afternoon.


In the last heat of the afternoon, I had my pick of the normal karts. I got some insider tips from Dave the mechanic, who told me which of the karts might be able to keep up with Busch's "specially prepared" No. 18 M&M's kart. His kart had the throttle running wide open.

Instead of speed, I made the strategic decision to attempt to get a head start against Busch and the rest of the amateurs in the 12-car field.

I took the No. 17 car at the front of the line and started from the pole position on the inside rail. We lined up two wide and six deep, with Busch going to the rear of the pack. His biggest challenge was getting through the traffic snarl in front of him before the end of the eight-lap heat.

I figured if I could get a clean jump at the start and just hit my marks on a tight inside line around the track, Busch would have to catch me from behind. The strategy worked like a charm. I broke from the pack in the first turn and mashed the accelerator.

Nothing but clear track in front of me for seven full laps.

Of course, Busch chased me down on the final lap. He slammed into the left rear corner of my kart and turned me sideways, but he didn't fully spin me out. I steered out of the spin, keeping my foot on the accelerator and staying close to his rear bumper through the tighter, shorter turns in the middle of the track.

Into the final turn, Busch, already having dismissed me like a nervous soccer mom in a 4-cylinder mini-van, swept wide to the outside to block a passing attempt from Michigan International Speedway president Roger Curtis, who also was running in a "specially prepared" kart.

Still on Busch's bumper, I steered hard to the inside rail and slipped underneath both Busch and Curtis with about a hundred yards to the finish line. The checkered flag was all mine.

I pulled off the track feeling like I'd just slam-dunked on LeBron James or hit a Justin Verlander fastball into the upper deck.

Even though I knew better.

I did, however, win the undisputed Grand Rapids Press driving championship.

I left our motorsports writer, Steve Kaminski, and videographer, Mike Mulholland, in another ZIP code. (Full disclosure: It definitely helped getting some track time Monday at lunch with former open-wheel racer and current Motor Racing Network announcer Jeff Striegle showing me the preferred line around the track.)

Yet, I know the truth: Busch let me go in that final turn. He made my daydream come to life. Thanks.

In fact, Busch, who has developed sort of a "Bad Boy" image on the track, couldn't have been nicer throughout his appearance. He showed everyone he's a good-natured, fun-loving, wise-cracking character off the track who appreciates all of the adoration he gets from fans.

In the end, we shook hands after our race and he ended up showing me what a genuine class act he is -- on and off the track.

One last thing: If he wants a rematch, I'm all for it. Except I'm pretty sure I'm going to need a much bigger head start if that happens.