Kyle Busch: Joe Gibbs’ Next Project

Kyle Busch is a contradiction. Busch is a superstar. He is immensely talented. Unfortunately, Busch is arrogant. He is brash and volatile. For owners, Busch is an obvious hire. For anyone else, he is an unwanted conversation.

On Tuesday, Busch joined Joe Gibbs Racing. He signed a three-year contract. Simultaneously, Gibbs released J.J. Yeley. “Going through this process, he was real forthright, straightforward,” Gibbs said. “He's very smart, and what he said was, 'I made some mistakes,' and he said 'Hopefully, as young as I am I can learn from those mistakes.' He was real forthright, real squared up, he didn't do an ego thing. He was really just, I thought, pretty humble on the stuff that we talked to him about.”

During his career, Busch has recorded four wins, 24 top five finishes, and 43 top ten finishes. During his press conference, Busch stated the obvious. “The Nextel Cup series is filled with good teams and good people, but the moment I saw the shop and began talking with (the team), there was a level of comfort that made me feel like this is where I belong,” he said. “I want to win races and championships, and Joe Gibbs Racing's three-car/one-team philosophy gives me the best opportunity to do that.”

Gibbs comprehends difficulty. He tolerates challenges. He has managed Dexter Manley and Tony Stewart. He has won three Super Bowls and three Nextel Cup championships. Busch will be taxing. He possesses incalculable attitude. For Gibbs, he is not unique.