Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

2016 Season in Review: Kyle Busch

NASCAR Victory Lap & After The Lap

LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 01: NASCAR Sprint Cup series driver Kyle Busch drives down the Las Vegas Strip during the NASCAR Victory Lap on December 1, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Getty Images

Kyle Busch

CREW CHIEF: Adam Stevens

TEAM: Joe Gibbs Racing

POINTS: 3rd

WINS: 4 (Martinsville I, Texas I, Kansas I, Indianapolis)

LAPS LED: 1,379 (most since 2013)

TOP 5s: 17

TOP 10s: 25 (most since 2013)

POLES: 3 (Phoenix I, Indianapolis, Chicago - by rulebook)

WHAT WENT RIGHT: Avoided injury and ran the complete season, earning four wins, including his firsts at Martinsville and Kansas Speedway. Busch also repeated at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July ... Again made it to the final four at Homestead-Miami Speedway … Led over 1,000 laps on the season for the first time since 2013 and improved in top five and top-10 finishes from his championship season of 2015.

WHAT WENT WRONG: Finished third in the Daytona 500 after admitting he didn’t make a move quick enough to try and earn his first win … Busch racked up five DNFs in 2016, which is the second highest in his career (had eight in rookie season, 2005). Earned four consecutive finishes of 30th or worse at Dover, Charlotte, Pocono, and Michigan … Led 256 laps at Bristol II and finished 39th, also led over 100 laps at Dover II and finished second.

WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2017: Busch returns for his 13th full season and will look for his second championship with Joe Gibbs Racing … Will put extra emphasis on going to victory lane at the two remaining tracks he has not done so, Charlotte and Pocono.

Follow @KellyCrandall