Gibbs newcomer Busch says Toyota will win in '08

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Write it down. Kyle Busch predicts a victory for Toyota in 2008.

In fact, with Joe Gibbs Racing switching from Chevrolets to Toyotas for the upcoming season, Busch would be incredibly disappointed if he or teammates Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin were deprived of the chance to score the first victory for the manufacturer.

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"I would be, because that means I wouldn't get a win, Tony wouldn't get a win and Denny wouldn't get a win," Busch said. "It would be a pretty big deal. You know, there's no doubt in my mind that at least one of us can't get a win. So you're going to see a Toyota in Victory Lane this year, for sure."

When you look at the stats, Busch's prediction seems fairly secure. Stewart has won at least two races in each of his nine seasons with Gibbs. Hamlin has three victories in two full seasons. And Busch has victories in each of the past three years.

Toyota was 1-2 in Wednesday morning's drafting practice, with Busch leading the way. His No. 18 clicked off a lap of 187.786 mph, slightly quicker than A.J. Allmendinger in the No. 84. (test speeds)

And Busch said efforts are under way back in the North Carolina shop to make sure what the team learned this week gets translated on the cars of Stewart and Hamlin for them to test when the second session begins Monday. (read more)

"All the information's already been discussed," Busch said. "All of the guys back at the shop have been looking at it. There's been phone calls back and forth about them already changing some of the stuff on the cars from what we've learned here.

"A lot of the engine stuff that we've been learning here has been getting translated back there. They've been running it on the engine dyno. It's been non-stop. Joe Gibbs Racing has been working 24/7."

Busch said the opportunity to drive for Gibbs has invigorated him.

"Everything's going great," he said. "Being back at the shop, working with the guys a little bit, getting seats squared away, everybody's been real helpful. [They've] been telling me about how excited they are.

"So the morale back at the shop's great. Everybody's excited about the tandem that we have here with myself, Tony and Denny. You know, everybody's pretty pumped up and ready to get the season rolling."

Even on the off-chance that it isn't a Gibbs car crossing the finish line first, Busch is certain one of the Toyota teams has what it takes to win.

During this week's testing, J.J. Yeley, David Reutimann and Jacques Villeneuve have also shown surprising speed. So it's obvious that Toyota teams have done their homework and are beginning to make the gains necessary to finish up front. (read more)

"I'm confident enough in the Toyota that they're going to make it to Victory Lane," Busch said. "I feel like the Gibbs organization is ultimately going to be the telltale story of how good Toyota's going to be.

"You still have Red Bull, who has been a strong effort. Obviously they came down here prepared and ready to go. They've been pretty fast, as well as Bill Davis, with Villeneuve, has been good. There's going to be a couple more down here next week."

Kyle Busch has all the confidence in the world in his prediction for 2008.

"It's not a stretch at all to say that Toyota's going to be in Victory Lane."