Waving the Checkers: Bristol

My first thought after Kyle Busch parked his race car in Turn 3 of Bristol Motor Speedway and left it for the team to retrieve – apparently a display of frustration for his team's failure during their final pit stop – was that calling out your team, regardless of the circumstances, carries a lot of risk.

The only way you're effectively allowed to express yourself the way Busch did Saturday afternoon is to follow it up with the way he dominated on Sunday. And by the way, he sure as hell better win the race, too, especially after his team redeemed itself with a solid final pit stop resulting in Busch exiting off pit road with the lead. Of course, Busch did end up winning, but if he had not, and if he had missed his pit stall or wrecked at any time during the race, his message on Saturday could have come back to bite him – 10 fold.

After his performance in the Sprint Cup series race, I had to consider that perhaps Kyle was not punishing his team on Saturday, but instead motivating them. Maybe what appeared to be a display of immaturity was actually a very effective way of telling his team, "These are my expectations, and you fell short."

Few drivers in my lifetime have the type of confidence Kyle Busch carries to and from the track, in or out of the car, particularly at such a young age. He continues to display an above-average talent and an extreme disdain for losing. Like any other champion athlete, Busch has the confidence to take complete control of his destiny by demanding his team match his performance.

My first impression was that I didn't like what he did. I felt he showed little respect for a group of people who have helped him win more than they have lost. But, following Sunday's race, I'm left wondering, did Kyle Busch's message Saturday afternoon, intentionally or accidentally, motivate his team for Sunday's race and beyond? Is it what the team needed to reach the next level and avoid the disappointment they had in last year's Chase?

If you judge Kyle Busch simply by what he does on the track – and it appears that's the only way he wants to be judged – then how can you argue with his method? After all, this is a world that rewards performance and winning, and you can't argue with Kyle's statistics behind the wheel. He wins often, and wins with authority.

Regardless of my opinion of his actions Saturday afternoon, I have to appreciate the courage to make such a statement, and his ability to back it up on the track the next day.