Kyle Busch not underestimating Truex threat: "They're a scary team"

Clearly, Busch fears the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing team. He knows the Denver-based operation has the tools and the talent to win the championship.

“Oh, yeah, just the way they've run,” Busch said. “Now they're picking it up everywhere they go to. They're a scary team. They're a threat, that's for sure. If you look at, okay, what is Truex's worst track, Martinsville maybe. Probably a sixth or a seventh, that's it. Everywhere else it's a win. 

“That's pretty scary. For us, I think we look at it as every track is a pretty good track. You look at Talladega as just being an unknown. For us, I feel like Texas is probably our worst place just with the repave, trying to figure out what it takes to be fast there.”

Winning the title no easy task

After 13 seasons on the tour and winning the 2015 title, Busch understands the complexities of winning the championship. And he knows how it feels to be the driver carrying the momentum into the playoffs. In 2008, Busch won eight of the first 22 races in the regular season and imploded as soon as the playoffs arrived.

“Back in 2008, I was that guy,” Busch said. “We were the guy that had eight wins in the regular season. We were the No. 1 seed. We were kicking everybody's butt each and every week. When it got down to Chase time, we fell on our face. We threw that championship away, no question. 

“I know how it feels to be as good as he is and to be winning and to be the threat each and every single week, but you still got to get it done when it comes down to (playoff) time. Certainly they could have the same thing we had happen, or they could just light us all up and show us what they've been about all year long.”

Busch is far from throwing in the towel. Joe Gibbs Racing announced earlier in the week they were swapping the No. 18 pit crew with the No. 19 team which has serviced Daniel Suarez all season long. Busch described the speed of his former pit crew as “occasional” and added their consistency “was less than stellar.”

“The whole organization kind of decided that it was a necessary change to give ourselves the best opportunity to go race for a championship,” Busch said. “You got to come out here with all these guys. All these teams, as good as they are, you have to have all the bullets in the chamber. 

“We felt like we were a little bit short there with the pit crew. We got metrics and things like that that kind of show they were a little bit off, not far, but just a little bit. When you need it most, you're going to need to count on those guys. That could be the last stop at Homestead. Fastest pit crew wins, hopefully.”

Busch a formidable opponent as well

Overall, Busch has been the most consistent of the JGR drivers this season. And a stronger pit crew will only benefit the No. 18 M&Ms team. While Denny Hamlin has as many wins (two, although Darlington was encumbered) and a slightly higher average finish (11.5 vs 11.7), Busch has six more poles and has led an additional 959 laps — second only to Truex. Matt Kenseth has yet to win this season, and his contract was not renewed for 2018.

Busch is also the most recent champion in the JGR fold. He became the second driver to win the title under the elimination format — and he did so after breaking his leg earlier in the 2015 season and missing the first 11 races.

And Busch has won a points race at every track on the Cup schedule with the exception of Charlotte Motor Speedway, where he finished second in May. On playoff tracks where the Cup tour raced earlier this season, Busch’s average finish is 7.25. Truex’s average is 10th. Yet other than poles, Truex has topped Busch in every category in 2017. 

But Busch believes he can still advance to the final four and let the chips fall where they may. 

“I still look at the 78 (Truex),” Busch said. “I mean, there's no question why you can't put him ahead of us. The reason I say that is because if you look at every single race during the year, maybe one or two instances here or there, Truex is either first or second, or first, second or third. You look at (Kyle) Larson, if he's not first, he's like fourth to eighth. 

“I feel like us, if we're not first, we're fourth to sixth. Truex is always first or second. His average is always higher than what ours might be. If we're having an off day, our off day is sixth to eighth, whatever it is. Larson's off day is sixth to eighth, whatever it is. The off day for the 78 is, like, second. That's just how good they've been.”