Kyle Busch embraces role as NASCAR’s No. 1 villain

Being unpopular isn’t something Busch concerns himself with as he pursues a second Cup Series championship.

First there was the climb atop his No. 18 Toyota with a broom, where he proceeded to sweep the roof. Then, after jumping down, he mocked those loudly booing him by placing his fingers in his ears to block out the jeers before waving three fingers in the air to signify how many races he had won over the past week at Bristol Motor Speedway.

The capper came when Kyle Busch told the crowd during his national television interview broadcast that he loved the reaction. He was seemingly begging for the raining of boos down upon him to continue.

"I don't care. All noise is good noise," he said.

The theatrics were something any heel wrestler would’ve admired. It was vintage WWE bad guy. And it was fantastic. Exactly what NASCAR needs, a driver willing to don the black who is not only unafraid to be booed, but actively encourages the venom. Because while Dale Earnhardt Jr. is unquestionably the most popular driver, Busch is its most loathed and he’s not going to change.

“Don't matter what I do, what I say, how much I try to change,” Busch said. “You don't change perception. People have whatever perception it is on you.”

That Busch is NASCAR’s No. 1 villain isn’t a recent occurrence. It’s long been the case thanks to his dominance on the track accompanied with sometimes boorish behavior off it.

But though the immature conduct has improved considerably (attempting to punch Joey Logano aside), Busch’s superiority and unabashed willingness to voice his displeasure when things don’t go his way have ensured that many fans aren’t enamored with the 2015 Cup Series champion whose 40 career wins ranks second to Jimmie Johnson among active drivers.

Not that Busch really cares.

“My fans are great and amazing, but there's no way all of my fans are going to be able to fill up Bristol Motor Speedway,” Busch said. “The best of the best that have won here have been booed and have been for a long, long time. So I'm fine with that.”

Although Busch may possess a divisive personality, what is not in doubt is that he is among NASCAR’s most gifted drivers, if not its most talented.

“Love him or hate him, I feel [Busch] is the most all-around talented driver I will ever witness in my lifetime,” Kyle Larson tweeted following the race.

Busch’s win Saturday night capped a week in which he won the Camping World Truck Series and Xfinity Series races at Bristol, giving him a complete sweep of all three NASCAR national touring divisions. He is the only driver to pull off such a feat, having also done so in 2010.

You would think this kind of accomplishment would earn Busch widespread praise. It doesn’t. Instead, it merely provides more ammunition to condemn a driver the world loves to hate. Many believe he has no business racing in lower tier divisions, thus any wins accumulated are only because they came against inferior competition.

It’s a farcical argument conveniently ignoring the fact Busch brings in additional sponsorship dollars by racing in the Xfinity or Truck Series, thereby allowing Joe Gibbs Racing and Kyle Busch Motorsports the necessary resources to provide chances for emerging drivers and team personnel who otherwise may not get that platform. Erik Jones, Daniel Suarez, William Byron, and Christopher Bell are among the young drivers Busch has had a hand in developing and pushing their careers forward.

Respect from the fans is something that one day far down the road Busch will receive. Just as Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, and Darrell Waltrip were once regard as evildoers, only later evolving into beloved fan favorites.

Until then, scenes like the one that played out Saturday night will continue. And in the end, Busch will get the last laugh with no shortage of opportunities to mock his detractors as he celebrates win after win after win.