2014 Driver Reviews: No. 12 Kurt Busch
After doing exit interviews for Sprint Cup Series drivers in 2013, we're turning the tables. We want the drivers to sell themselves. So here are the resumés for all full-time Sprint Cup Series drivers in 2014. Then, at the end, we'll provide a summation of the driver's season in 150 words or less.
Name: Kurt Busch
NASCAR Experience: 14 full seasons in the Sprint Cup Series. 2004 champion. 25 wins.
Most recent team: Stewart-Haas Racing
Most recent season finish: 12th
2014 accomplishments: A win, six top fives and 11 top 10s. After changing crew chiefs at the end of the year with Danica Patrick, had arguably best three-race stretch of the season with finishes of eighth, seventh and 11th.
Most memorable moment: The win at Martinsville to make the Chase. Not only was it a win
But it had this:
Strengths: Remember that former Cup champion thing? Has won at every type of track in the Cup Series save a restrictor plate track. But we know that's roulette, and that's only counting points races anyway.
2015 goals: Carry over the speed found at the end of the year with Tony Gibson. Establish a modicum of consistency.
FTM's Take: While Ryan Newman clearly benefitted from the new Chase system, you can make the argument that the biggest beneficiary was Busch. Simply put, the Chase berth from the win at Martinsville was the golden polish on a season that would be downright disappointing in any other Chase format.
Was the polish exceptionally pretty? No. But it was still polish. Much like last season at Furniture Row, Busch's speed couldn't be meshed with the avoidance of disaster on a consistent basis. How so? Well, his six top-five finishes were countered by six finishes of 36th or worse.
That's not acceptable. Busch has the talent to win another Cup title and given who won in 2014, he clearly has the equipment too. If a title is the best case, a repeat of 2014 should be the worst case.
Previous reviews: No. 13 AJ Allmendinger, No. 14 Greg Biffle, No. 15 Kasey Kahne, No. 16 Aric Almirola, No. 17 Kyle Larson, No. 18, Jamie McMurray, No. 19 Clint Bowyer, No. 20, Austin Dillon, No. 21 Paul Menard, No. 22 Brian Vickers, No. 23 Marcos Ambrose, No. 24 Martin Truex Jr., No. 25 Tony Stewart, No. 26 Casey Mears, No. 27 Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 28, Danica Patrick, No. 29, Justin Allgaier, No. 30, David Gilliland, No. 31 Cole Whitt, No. 32 David Ragan, No. 33 Michael Annett, No. 34 Reed Sorenson, No. 35 Alex Bowman
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Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
