(Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images)
Joey has stated on numerous occasions how much both Kyle and Denny have helped him this year, and both JD and Joe (and Tony last year) have gone on in interviews time and again about how Kyle has brought a new vitality to the concept of JGR as a team, particularly back at the shop and in sharing information at the track.
Yeah, once they get down to the last few laps, it's every man for himself—but that's the same for every team (think Jimmie and Jeff at Martinsville two years ago, or Carl, Greg, and Matt last year at Dover).
As long as you don't outright wreck your own teammate(s), there are no "team orders," and if there were, the sport would lose far more than good hard clean competition for the fans—it would lose its integrity.
As for "showing his true colors," Kyle won 21 races last year across the three major series: 18 of them in the Cup and Nationwide Series, 17 of them for JGR.
According to an interview done earlier this year, it has been stated by numerous people that when possible, Kyle would treat his team very well back at the shop after such weekends—and not just his No. 18 team, but all of Joe Gibbs Racing.
According to Kyle, at least 10 times he has bought lunch for the whole shop. Because of his winning ways, crew members took home more bonus money and more mementos last year than in the past decade or more.
Sponsors stayed on-board, both those for Gibbs and Busch's personal sponsors as well. They even managed to involve some of his existing sponsors to branch out more, such as NOS.
Add to that the fact that he won 10 races overall in the Nationwide Series—tying the all-time single-season record held for more years than he had been alive by Sam Ard—then turned around and donated $100,000 to Ard to help with his medical expenses.
With his help, the No. 20 car was also able to bring home the Nationwide Series Owner's Championship. Kyle may have only won in it once in his three races in the car, but every little bit helped I'm sure.
The same held true for the No. 51 truck for Billy Ballew Motorsports. No, it didn't bring home an owner's championship, but it did much better in the standings than it ever would have done without him.
This year it only gets better. Each week during truck practice, Kyle can often be found on his back under the truck or working on some other portion to help out now that the new rules limit the number of crew members at the track.
The author himself ends with a statement about how having everything handed to him at a young age is "biting chunks out of his [Kyle's] character."
I don't know what biography or source the author uses to make such a claim, but I highly suggest research before making such a claim. I think he's quite a character and many others agree—whether he's winning or losing, you can't take your eyes off him.
And to make it right after quoting Joey Logano—the most "well-prepared" best-treated young driver to hit NASCAR ever—makes it all the more ironic.
After the article, the comments only get worse. They tend to focus on two areas: 1) how there are other drivers out there who are "as good" but don't act the same way and 2) that Kyle has only "ego" and "whining" but no "passion."
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