Just 2 words - Kyle Busch

We all saw this coming, didn't we?

Love him, hate him, Kyle Busch has talent behind the wheel. He’s just had some on-track incidents this year and, a few off-track.

And, Kyle Busch is certainly not the first aggressive driver in NASCAR. He surely won’t be the last. Do names like Dale Earnhardt, Darrell Waltrip, Rusty Wallace in the last generation of drivers come to mind? Yes, yes they do.

He’s young, 26, hot-headed and no matter how you feel about him personally, he can drive the wheels off a car. I’ve defended him for a couple of years, touting his talent and take no prisoners attitude.

He puts personality back in a sport that has gotten politically correct, don’t ruffle anyone’s feathers, smile smile smile, sign every piece of paper, diecast and body part put in front of you, and don’t speak ill of any other driver.

He drives for Coach Joe Gibbs.

If anyone should have seen this coming, it’s Joe Gibbs. After all, he put up with Tony Stewart, didn’t he?

I think Rick Hendrick saw it coming years ago. I also think every other team owner in NASCAR was afraid to sign him because they could see anger and aggression in the young man’s future.

Quick 2011 recap: In May, Rowdy turned Kevin Harvick’s unmanned racecar into the wall on pit road after a race at Darlington; alleged fisticuffs in June at Kansas with car owner Richard Childress, whose truck piloted by rookie Joey Coulter, Busch hit during the cool-down laps post-race; also in June, he took out his Lexus LFA sports car (a toy, as he called it) at 128 mph in a 45 mph zone near the North Carolina town of Troutman with his bride in the passenger seat (what was she thinking?); and finally, in November, well, we’ve all heard the story of young Mr. Busch in Texas this weekend, ensuring Ron Hornaday had no chance at the Camping World Truck Series championship.

He’s jeopardized his ride and sponsorship.

Apparently M&M/Mars had enough and went so far as to post its displeasure on its Facebook page over the weekend.

When Kyle took to the pit box for the race, Coach Gibbs didn’t speak to him or even glance his way.

Does this sound like another Gibbs driver from the past?

Really? Yep, 2-time Cup winner and one of this season’s best bets to dethrone 5-Time, Tony Stewart. He shoved other drivers, thrown tantrums, slapped a tape recorder out of a reporter’s hand and honestly, who can remember how many angry things he’s done? His sponsor Home Depot allegedly told JGR the driver would have to go to anger management therapy or lose his sponsor.

Gee, KyBu is kind of like Tony at that age.

Public sentiment is mixed on should further sanctions come his way on Tuesday. He knows he screwed up big time. For me, seeing his dejected face on the box Sunday, shunned by his car owner, it’s enough.

Because, I know, deep down inside, he will grow up, he will mature and, he will win a Cup championship.

Just like that other Gibbs driver.