Kyle Busch's 750th Start: Who Actually Cares?

Alright, so Kyle Busch hit 750 starts. Big deal. In a sport where guys are driving until they're practically fossilized, is this really something to celebrate, or just a neon sign pointing to the inevitable decline?

The "Rowdy" Days Are Long Gone

Let's be real, the guy's been coasting for a while now. Sure, he snagged a fifth-place finish in Phoenix. But before we start throwing confetti, let’s remember this is after a season where he couldn’t even sniff the playoffs for the second year running. A 93-race winless streak? That ain't the Kyle Busch we used to know.

He says it "feels really good" to get a top five to end the season. Well, good for him. I guess setting the bar that low makes everything feel like a victory. The article quotes him talking about how a caution helped him get back on the lead lap. Seriously? Relying on luck to salvage a race? That's not the mark of a champion; that's the mark of someone clinging to the last threads of relevance.

And don't even get me started on his "clean chit" to Goodyear. "I don’t think it was anything with Goodyear’s fault," he says. Right. Because blaming the tire company that everyone else is quietly cursing under their breath is just bad for business. Gotta protect those sponsorships, I guess. As reported by AOL, Busch gave a Kyle Busch Hands Clean Chit to NASCAR’s $1.97 Billion Partner Amid Caution-Filled Phoenix Run.

New Rules, Same Old Story?

Then there's this whole thing about NASCAR loosening the rules on Cup drivers running in the lower series. Busch's reaction? Pure gold, ofcourse. “Gee, what do you know? Kyle Busch isn’t winning—let’s open it back up, OK?” The sarcasm is thick enough to cut with a knife.

But let's unpack that for a second. He's basically admitting that the only reason he dominated those series before was because he was a Cup Series ringer stomping on the dreams of up-and-comers. And now that he's not winning as much in the big leagues, he wants to go back and pad his stats? Give me a break.

He's talking about maybe running some Truck Series races for Spire Motorsports. Okay, great. More Busch in a series that doesn't need him. And he's whining about not having "free funds" to buy himself a ride in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. Seriously? This is Kyle Busch we're talking about. He's supposedly rolling in dough, but he's acting like he can't afford a used go-kart.

Wait a minute... didn't I read something about him suing an insurance company? Oh yeah, that's right! He's suing Pacific Life for allegedly screwing him out of millions in a retirement plan. So maybe he's not as rich as we all thought. Maybe that’s why he’s so desperate to cling to any racing opportunity he can get his hands on.

I gotta say, all this talk about Busch's struggles both on and off the track makes me wonder... is this the beginning of the end? Is he going to fade into obscurity like so many other drivers before him? Or will he somehow manage to pull off one last comeback and prove all the haters (including me) wrong?

Then again, maybe I'm being too harsh. Maybe 750 starts is a big deal. Maybe he's just going through a rough patch. Maybe... nah, who am I kidding?

Time to Hang Up the Helmet?