Busch can be likeable, just look back at Bristol races (cont'd)

Busch is one of the first to admit he sometimes has anger-management issues, especially in the immediate aftermath of a race that didn't go as planned (i.e., meaning one where he isn't celebrating in Victory Lane). But he and many of those who work most closely around him insist that there is another side to him that the general public -- and some other drivers such as Vickers, obviously -- just do not see and therefore do not comprehend.

Asked in the wake of Saturday's victory if he really is miserable and angry much of the time, especially when he doesn't win a race, Busch smiled and replied: "Maybe 'til I land [back home] in Mooresville [N.C.]. Then it's back to life as normal.

"The race track is the race track. It's a lot different here than what it is at home. I've got a lot of friends that I work with, family that I live with."

“

I've said to people that I wish they could see Kyle the way we see him, away from the race track, just sitting around talking, having fun.

”

-- JOE GIBBS

They know him best. Joe Gibbs, owner of the organization that fields the No. 18 Busch drives in the Cup Series, has known his share of professional athletes. He used to coach the Washington Redskins in the National Football League.

"I think Kyle is extremely competitive," Gibbs said. "You deal with athletes and you learn that some react in different ways. I think for him, you know, it's that spur of the moment [when he's angry and miserable], like just when he's getting out of the car [after a race].

"In football, we used to tell the field-goal kicker not to look over to the sidelines for the first 10 seconds if you miss one -- because everybody over there is calling you everything you can think of."

It is the raw emotion of sports. And it passes quickly in most minds and arenas.

Different day, different reaction

In between his latest victories at Bristol, Busch ran another Nationwide Series race. He was leading when rookie Chase Austin wrecked him -- and afterward, he was surprisingly gracious toward the younger driver when asked about what transpired.

His reaction stood in stark contrast to the ugliness that went down a week earlier during the post-race confrontation with Vickers -- who is as likable a guy as you'll ever meet in a Cup garage. Busch explained why Saturday night.

"Chase, he's young. He's trying to learn," Busch said. "This was one of his first races in the Nationwide Series. It's not worth it to blast a young guy coming in, trying to learn. I've been that guy making mistakes coming in. ... I've made my share of mistakes.

"I don't tend to cut the experienced guys much slack, you know, because we all should know better, essentially."

Gibbs hinted that Busch is learning to know better about how to act, too. He said he wishes more folks could see what he said he often sees behind the scenes from his own young driver -- for Busch, despite having already been to Victory Lane 16 times in his Cup career, is barely 24 years of age.

"The thing that in the end you really want from your players or drivers or crew members or crew chiefs is a real passion for what they do," Gibbs said. "I think if you've got that, you can deal with different personalities -- because everybody is a little different.

"I've said to people that I wish they could see Kyle the way we see him, away from the race track, just sitting around talking, having fun -- or maybe over at the NASCAR theme park (in Concord, N.C.) where he's bought the night out for some kids."

He is, after all, still sort of a kid with some growing up to do. He was pleasant and personable and all things opposite of miserable and angry following Saturday night's victory -- and didn't even take several open opportunities to return volley on the many verbal shots Vickers had launched his way earlier.

Now Busch just needs to work a little harder on being that way at least most of the time, if not all [a virtual impossibility for any human being], and not just after he wins a race. Having said that, his handling of the Chase Austin incident in Friday's Nationwide race was in some ways even more impressive than the way he out-raced Martin to the finish line 24 hours later.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer.