Busch's B-Day Gets Richer With Richmond Sweep

by Edmund Jenks | May 3, 2009 at 07:00 am

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A couple of months ago at California Speedway, Kyle Busch almost had his sweep when he won two of the three events held there. Failing to register a "Cup" win in California ... he went on to win the very next "Cup" race held in Las Vegas.

I wrote, at the time:

Kyle Busch won both events (Camping World Truck Series, Nationwide Series) held by NASCAR at the track making it the first time any driver has won two races in NASCAR’s three national touring series on the same day.

Busch will go for a weekend sweep today in the Auto Club 500 in the Sprint Cup Series. No driver has won the Truck Series, Nationwide Series and Cup races on the same weekend.

If Kyle Busch does happen to pull of a hat trick (three wins in three races held over the event weekend), NASCAR will just have to be labeled a “Busch League” (at least for the weekend) in the annals of auto sports racing.

Well, Kyle went out and captured his hat trick … with qualifications. Kyle Busch won the main event Sprint Cup race one week later here at his home track in Las Vegas.

Now it can be stated fully - Kyle Busch gets his "Hat Trick" as a birthday present at the short track at RICHMOND.

"It's an awesome win for us," said Busch, who celebrated with his trademark sarcastic bow to the booing crowd, then later swan-dived into the arms of his Joe Gibbs Racing crew.

"It's really exciting to win on my birthday and to have my team guys enjoy it as much as I do. They're having a good time. We struggled for four weeks. It's been a struggle for us - we haven't finished where we want to. We made it happen here."

"I've watched Kyle this week, raced with him Thursday night, got to watch him run last night and tonight," added Tony Stewart. "When you get in a string like he's on, you got so much confidence and momentum on your side. That means so much in this series."

Kyle Busch planned to open the bulk of his birthday presents when he returned home from Richmond International Raceway. "What do you get a guy who has everything or buys anything he wants?" he wondered.

How about a trip to Victory Lane?

Busch became just the second driver in NASCAR history to win a Cup race on his birthday, celebrating his 24th on Saturday night at Richmond.

"It was a good birthday, for sure," Busch said. "This is the best present. It's cool."

Cale Yarborough is the only other driver to accomplish the feat - twice - celebrating his March 27th birthday with wins at North Wilkesboro in 1977 and Atlanta in 1983.

"How old was he?" Busch asked, a hint of cockiness in his voice. He then smiled with a slight sense of satisfaction when he learned Yarborough was 38 when he won his first race on his birthday.