[h=2]'We just haven't been able to close the deal' - Kyle Busch[/h] Friday, 12 May 2017


By Kelly Crandall / Images by Nigel Kinrade/LAT

Now that Kyle Busch seems to have a handle on Kansas Speedway, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver admits he just doesn’t want to screw it up.
Last spring, Busch was victorious in the Go Bowling 400 in what could be described as sweet relief. Kansas had long been a thorn in Busch's side with four DNFs and just three top-five finishes. The win came in Busch's 17th Cup start at the track.
As the defending winner at Kansas, Busch is particularly eager for a repeat Saturday night given that he – and Joe Gibbs Racing – have been locked out of victory lane through the first 10 races of the season.
"Even the last few times before we won here last year, we've had some really strong runs here," Busch said. "We've seemed to have gotten a setup or a hold of this place, I'd say, and hopefully, we don't screw that up this time around, and we can continue our strong runs and our fast pace of being able to have a shot to win."
Busch's No. 18 team has been winless since last July at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, while Gibbs' team has also been searching for the sweet spot. The organization hasn't won since Carl Edwards went to victory lane last November at Texas.
It hasn't been a complete meltdown, however. Through the first 10 races, the four Gibbs drivers have led 770 laps (462 of those coming from Busch), and Matt Kenseth grabbed a pole two weeks ago at Richmond. For Busch, a win should have been in the bank already but for some poor racing luck – like last weekend at Talladega, when Busch was unable to hold onto the lead late.
"We just weren't in the right place at the right time, I guess," Busch said. "I thought we were. Circumstances just kind of don't go your way and you don't win these things sometimes. Overall though, we've probably legitimately had a shot to win at least five races this year, in my mind.
"We've been in position or have had an opportunity to win five different times this year and we just haven't been able to close the deal. That's the most frustrating part for us is we just haven't been able to get to victory lane yet, but we know we're on the brink of it. We know we have fast cars. We know we're up front and we just got to put it all together."
Busch was seventh fastest in Friday's opening practice session.

 

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