Head2Head: Kyle Busch

Yes, if the right opportunity arises, Kyle Busch should cut the cord with Hendrick Motorsports.

Kyle can read the writing on the wall; he's the odd-man out. It would be best for Kyle -- and the Hendrick stable -- if, given the chance, he removed himself from the equation.

If you're getting a divorce, you don't still sleep with your ex, right? So why should Kyle continue to help fill the coffers at Hendrick?

That said, there's only a two-month window for that to happen. If Kyle has not reached agreement with another team before the Chase, he should continue to drive the No. 5. He should not get out of a Chase car just because it would be uncomfortable for his owner or teammates.

It's nothing against Hendrick; the organization as whole would benefit. There is a rift within HMS and, given the early season timing of the Dale Earnhardt Jr. announcement, the gap will continue to widen. It's human nature for team members to wonder the same things Kyle said in his post-race comments at Daytona: How much longer will he be allowed to sit in on team meetings?

Kyle's familiarity with the car and its set-ups are a plus for the No. 5 crew. He can verbalize the issues he wants addressed. That type of communication is golden for any crew -- and Kyle will take that talent with him to another organization.

Given the opportunity to sign with ... umm, DEI -- a driver-for-driver swap before Loudon -- Kyle's points stay the same plus he bags 10 bonus points for his victory at Bristol.

That said, imagine if Junior were to hit a streak of bad luck in the next few weeks and fall outside the top 12. Budweiser begins thinking of Chase exposure. DEI thinks of getting a leg up on 2008. Kyle continues to drive for the championship -- in the red No. 8. ... Stranger things have happened.

Again, if the right opportunity arises, Kyle Busch should cut the cord. Hendrick has.

YYes, Kyle Busch made some inflammatory remarks about his Hendrick Motorsports teammates following Saturday night's Pepsi 400, comments that won't earn him a lot of sympathy back in North Carolina.

Based on what he said -- and who he was referring to -- you have to assume Kyle wouldn't mind a change of scenery, perhaps before the end of the year.

However, should you take his post-race rant with a grain of salt?

Much of his tirade could be passed off as frustration at not winning the race, but this specific quote may have been most telling about how Kyle sees his future at Hendrick for the rest of this season.

"We'll make the most of this situation, make it into the Chase and hopefully be able to challenge for the championship at the end of the year and beat them all out and say, 'I told you so,' " he said.

That tells me Kyle believes the No. 5 team is good enough to win the championship this season -- and he'd be crazy to entertain offers that would derail that opportunity. As long as he feels like he's getting competitive equipment -- which he obviously is -- and has the support of his crew, he's a definite championship contender.

If he were to bail before the end of the season, he would be throwing away a huge opportunity.

Since cutting a tire and crashing at Lowe's in May -- which resulted in a 30th-place finish -- Busch has been right near the front. He led 48 laps at New Hampshire before falling out of contention late and was a factor all night at Daytona, losing to Jamie McMurray by inches.

There's no doubt in anyone's mind that Kyle Busch is as talented as anyone on the track. What's open for debate is his maturity.

Staying the course with Hendrick Motorsports for the rest of this season -- and keeping a positive attitude -- may go a long ways toward swaying some of those detractors over to his side.