HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch have a shot at their driver capturing the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) title Friday night at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway.
But, for Busch, Friday’s potential truck series championship, the first driver’s title for Kyle Busch Motorsports could be the preamble for Sunday, where Busch looks to overcome defying odds and win Joe Gibbs Racing their fourth Cup trophy.
And while yes Sunday is the cream of the crop, make no mistake about it, Busch will be glued to the pace of his driver of the No. 4 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota Tundra in Friday night’s Ford EcoBoost 200, as Jones in his first full-season of NCWTS competition looks to earn his greatest racing accomplishment yet.
“It’s hugely important,” said Busch. “You know, I love Kyle Busch Motorsports, all the guys there, the girls there, everybody that does a great job for us in order to make that organization successful. So I’m real proud of Erik Jones and what all he’s been able to accomplish the last few years with us as a race team, but also more importantly for himself for this year to become a Truck Series champion.
“You know, that’s the first step in NASCAR is to get that championship, you know, and then you continue on moving on. Obviously he’s got good things going for him in the future.”
Busch with the help of wife Samantha has built an empire with KBM which started in 2010. In a six-year span, the number of accolades the Mooresville, North Carolina-based team has achieved seems countless, but yet impressive. The poles, the wins, the seemingly infinite number of top-fives and top-10s – all of that is important and has kept the train moving.
But in the end the championships means more.
And while KBM has quickly grasped three owners championships in five years (2010, 2013 and 2014) is nothing – the ability to win a drivers championship and yet another ownership championship in the same year is another item the team should be able to soon cross off their list.
Jones after running two partial seasons in 2013 and 2014 has steered the No. 4 Toyota Tundra to anything but a remarkable year. What started off as frustrating has quickly fused into success with three wins, 11 top-fives and 19 top-10s in 22 races.
Even with an astounding stat pack as that, Jones leads rival and Keselowski’s Tyler Reddick by just 19 points heading into Friday’s 134-lap race.
Oh. Did I mention that Erik Jones has never raced at Homestead before?
Not to worry though.
Busch said Thursday during Championship Round Media Day that KBM saved one of their final rookie tests for the 1.5-mile oval, which they utilized a few weeks ago.
“We just gave him some practice laps last year and then they also came down here a couple weeks ago,” Busch said during Championship Media Day. “We saved a test for him to be able to have a test here. You know, I think he learned a lot. I don’t think he was necessarily ready when they unloaded, but he learned a lot and did a really good job. I’m optimistic that he’ll have a good day.
“I know he’s done really good at being able to learn these different racetracks over the years, looking at Iowa and Gateway and Michigan and places like that. He’s run fine, so I don’t foresee him having any issue.”
“Looking forward to that (Homestead) and celebrating big,” added Busch.
No matter the outcome on Friday, it’s hard not to point at the number one hauler in the NCWTS garage as pre-season favorites for 2016. With Jones moving up to an expected full-time NASCAR XFINITY Series role, reigning K&N East Series champion William Byron will fill Jones’ void, while Christopher Bell elevates himself from a part-time gig to a full-season ride providing a potential whopping 1-2 punch to the competitors next year.
But before next year’s green flag drops, Busch will likely sit atop the pit box Friday night, watch his protégé hone his craft and likely celebrate his first of many NASCAR championships, knowing two days later he has the opportunity to do the same thing.
And that’s quintessential NASCAR.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
