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Can Kurt and Kyle Busch become NASCAR’s winningest Brothers

by Steve Wronkowicz

I am co-host of the syndicated radio show: ON PIT ROW. Over ten years on the air and three on the net; see what can happen when I don't let the facts get in the way of my opinions.

March 30, 2011 7:38 am UTC No Comments

Kurt Busch Loudon New Hampshire in car bure 10

Don’t expect the most prolific NASCAR brother combo of our time to challange for the most Cup wins ever by siblings.

Kurt and Kyle Busch currently sit in sixth place all-time with a combined forty-two wins in the Sprint Cup Series; Kurt with twenty-two and Kyle twenty. But there is a formidable task ahead as sitting atop the brothers win list are Bobby and Donnie Allison with ninety-four Cup wins.

While Kurt and Kyle have one thing on their side in a quest to move to the top of this category–time; their ability to win Cup races at a fast enough rate isn’t looking plausible. Even if the brothers could average winning a combined five races per year it would take them into the 2021 season to even tie the Allisons. Averaging those five wins per year would be based on Kurt and Kyle continuining to win a combined 15 percent of the races they enter. Currently Kyle is winning at just shy of nine percent of the Cup races he enters and Kurt is at six percent.

With 369 Cup starts Kurt has been starting races at NASCAr’s highest level for ten years and one would wonder if he has ten more in him. Last night Kurt talked ON PIT ROW about his career, racing in his home town of Las Vegas and his new found love for drag racing. You can watch the entire interview with Kurt here. Is Kurt’s foray into the drag racing world a preview of things to come as a veteran looks toward his future?

Younger brother Kyle has only 227 Cup starts under his belt and would seem to be better suited to carry the brothers torch toward knocking off the Allisons. Kyle not only has a better winning percentage than Kurt but most likely has more years left in him winning at that higher percentage.

Most of the brother acts ahead of the Busch brothers show lopsided win totals. The Waltrips have a combined win total of 88; Darrell with 84 and Michael with four. The Flock brothers with 62 wins; Tim with 39 while Fonty has 19 and Bob only four. Donald Thomas has one win to combine with brother Herb’s forty-eight.

Only the next tandem above the Busch’s of Terry and Bobby Labonte show an equal number of wins, with twenty-two and twenty-one respectively.

If Kurt and Kyle are to have any chance of rising to the top in this NASCAR catagory it looks as if brother Kyle needs to concentrate on winning in the Cup series at a much more prodigious rate.

photo credit: Glenn Bure/ON PIT ROW

Filed under: Darrell Waltrip, Joe Gibbs Racing, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Michael Waltrip, NASCAR, NASCAR History, On Pit Row The Fastest Two Hours on Radio, Terry Labonte, The Waltrips

Tagged with: Bobby Allison, Bobby Labonte, Darrell Waltrip, Donnie Allison, Fonty Flock, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Michael Waltrip, NASCAR Brothers, Terry Labonte, Tim Flock

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Dale Earnhardt vs David Pearson: Who Wins NASCAR’s 64 Greatest Final Lap?

by Charlie Turner

Thanks for stopping by OnPitRow.com and the Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie blog. The best NASCAR and IndyCar news and opinion, exclusive pictures and video. I'm Charlie Turner. Follow me on Twitter @onpitrow

May 31, 2009 10:40 am UTC 49 Comments

We’ve come a long way from the first brackets in the NASCAR 64 Greatest Drivers Tournament at Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie. The whole thing probably stretched out a bit too long. But we got here. And “here” in this case is a last lap, green-white-checker finish between The Silver Fox and the Intimidator.

Dale Earnhardt won 76 times in 676 Cup Series starts and was one of only two seven time series champions. His win total is seventh best all-time. He won consecutive titles three different times and was a series runner-up three times. Earnhardt only won the Daytona 500 once – in ’98 – but is the all-time leader in wins at Daytona International Speedway with 34. It was said that Earnhardt could “see the air” when he raced at the restrictor plate tracks at Daytona and Talladega. I don’t know about all that. But he sure saw the checkered flag plain enough at those two tracks.

Read a couple comments from Senior fans below.

Dale Earnhardt all the way. Dale is the only driver who went from rookie of the year to champion in consecutive seasons. In his second season Dale led the point standings all year long, except the first race when he finished second. His percentage of 1.02 average finish in one season (1980) is the best ever. – Gary Redd

Dale Senior by far. Regarding wrecks, Dale has the lowest DNF percentage by a driver with over 500 starts. Junior (Johnson) had over two and a half times more DNF’s than Dale and many more wrecks than Dale. Well over half of Dale’s DNF’s were engine failures not wrecks. You have to be running at the finish to win championship’s and Dale it seven times, Junior Zero. – Ben Shirley

David Pearson is second on the all-time Cup Series victory list with 105 and is a three time Winston Cup champ. He won the ’76 Daytona 500, set a record for super speedway qualifying by winning 11 straight poles at Charlotte Motor Speedway. In ’73, Pearson won 11 of the 18 Cup races that he entered. He did all this while rarely entering as many races as his contemporaries. Pearson missed alot of races. According to The Blount Report, NASCAR’s Most Overated & Underrated, The Fox raced is 75 percent of the races in only four seasons in his career. Pearson won the championship three of those years and finished third in the other.

Here are a couple of typical comments from Pearson fans.

I’m picking David Pearson for the upset, because from the old racing I’ve watched and old stories I’ve read and heard, he had more talent than Petty. Half the wins of Petty + running half the time = as good if not better than The King. I’m sending Pearson to the finals. – Matt Mercer

Had Pearson run a full schedule his entire career, he’d have won more championships than The King. Jeff Gordon, while probably one of the best of the current breed of drivers, doesn’t hold a candle to the Silver Fox. Under the current rules and schedule, Jeff won’t match his record. – themadman

To get to the Final Lap of the Tourney, Pearson’s fans voted him over the likes of Jeff Gordon and the King himself, Richard Petty. Earnhardt fans rallied after a close, first round match up with Bobby Isaac to sweep past Junior Johnson and then Darrell Waltrip in the Four Wide Final.

Dale Earnhardt against David Pearson – slamming doors and grinning all the while. That’s how I see this head-to-head battle in the final. Two of the Greatest NASCAR Drivers ever. We’ve had celebrities like Bobby Labonte, Geoffrey Bodine, Dave Despain and Dustin Long all vote in this thing. But we want to know who YOU think should win. Who will you choose? Please leave your comments.

Filed under: Dale Earnhardt, Darrell Waltrip, Daytona 500, Daytona International Speedway, NASCAR, NASCAR 64 Greatest Driver Tourney, Nascar Legends, The King, The Pettys, The Waltrips

Tagged with: Charlotte Motor Speedway, David Pearson, Junior Johnson, NASCAR 64 Greatest Driver Tourney, NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers, NASCAR's Most Overated & Underrated, Richard Petty, The Blount Report, Winston Cup

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Darrell Waltrip vs Dale Earnhardt: 4 Wide in the 64 Greatest of NASCAR

by Charlie Turner

May 7, 2009 8:47 am UTC 19 Comments

One of two seven-time Winston Cup Series champions against a driver with three titles and even more wins. Both of these guys were known for doing whatever it took to win. They wrecked each other a few notable times and have been on a collision course to this confrontation from the very beginning of the NASCAR 64 Greatest Drivers Tournament at Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie.

Darrell Waltrip is a three-time Winston Cup Series champion – ’81, ’82 and ’85. In the 61 races run during ’81 and ’82, he won 24 times. Waltrip finished with 84 Cup victories ( tied for 3rd all-time) in 809 starts and qualified on the pole 59 times. With 390 top ten finishes, DW was top ten in nearly half of the races he started. And he made boogity, boogity, boogity - and lately a race rat named Digger – famous. Or infamous.

Dale Earnhardt won 76 times in 676 Cup Series starts and was one of only two seven time series champions. His win total is seventh best all-time. He won consecutive titles three different times and was a series runner-up three times. Earnhardt only won the Daytona 500 once – in ’98 – but is the all-time leader in wins at Daytona International Speedway with 34. It was said that Earnhardt could “see the air” when he raced at the restrictor plate tracks at Daytona and Talladega. I don’t know about all that. But he sure saw the checkered flag plain enough at those two tracks.

Waltrip edged Tim Flock in the One and Done bracket to get to the Four Wide Final. Earnhardt easily beat Junior Johnson to come out of the Bench Racing region. We’ve asked a bunch of our radio guests On Pit Row to give us their picks throughout this little tournament. Inevitably, they ask what criteria they’re supposed to use. We always tell them to use whatever basis they wish, for deciding who should win. We’d like you to do the same in the comment section.

Filed under: Dale Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt, Inc., Darrell Waltrip, Daytona 500, Daytona International Speedway, Jeff Gordon, NASCAR, NASCAR 64 Greatest Driver Tourney, Nascar Legends, The Waltrips

Tagged with: boogity boogity boogity, Cale Yarborough, Junior Johnson, NASCAR 64 Greatest Driver Tourney, NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers, Tim Flock, Winston Cup

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Darrell Waltrip vs Tim Flock: NASCAR’s 8 Greatest Drivers Face off

by Charlie Turner

April 27, 2009 11:05 am UTC 13 Comments

Two-time Cup champ vs Three-timer. Two drivers who were part of early NASCAR multi-car, super teams. Monkey’s vs Gophers. It’s the final showdown in the One and Done bracket of the NASCAR 64 Greatest Drivers Tournament at Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie.

Darrell Waltrip is a three-time Winston Cup Series champion – ’81, ’82 and ’85. In the 61 races run during ’81 and ’82, he won 24 times. Waltrip finished with 84 Cup victories ( tied for 3rd all-time) in 809 starts and qualified on the pole 59 times. And he made boogity, boogity, boogity – and lately a race rat named Digger – famous. Or infamous.

Tim Flock was a two-time Cup Series champion winning his first in a Hudson Hornet and his second in one of Carl Kiekhaefer’s Chryslers. His 18 wins in ’55 stood as the record until ’67. Tim also won NASCAR’s only sports car race, in a Mercedes Benz 300 SL. Flock is also famous for his sometimes co-pilot – a monkey he called Jocko Flocko. I had mistakenly given credit to brother Fonty for Jocko. But Fonty’s grand daughter – Kelly Bair – corrected me. Thanks Kelly.

Waltrip’s Sweet 16 match up with fellow three-time Cup champ Jimmy Johnson was a close one. Flock had a tough time too, with the very popular Fireball Roberts. Will the Hudson Hornet mystique hold for one more round? Let us know who you want to advance by leaving a comment.

Filed under: Darrell Waltrip, Jimmy Johnson, NASCAR, NASCAR 64 Greatest Driver Tourney, Nascar Legends, The Waltrips

Tagged with: Carl Kiekhaefer, Digger, Fireball Roberts, Hudson Hornet, Jocko Flocko, NASCAR 64 Greatest Driver Tourney, NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers, Tim Flock

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Elite 8: NASCAR 64 Greatest Drivers Tourney

by Charlie Turner

April 24, 2009 4:43 pm UTC No Comments

The Sweet 16 is done in the 64 Greatest NASCAR Drivers Tourney at the Bench Racing blog. We’re down to the final eight, and a great eight it is.

Richard Petty swept the voting against the great Cale Yarborough so that ought to tell you how tough it will be to dethrone the King. Check out the brackets below. How are you doing so far?

Elite 8 64 Greatest NASCAR Drivers East Bracket

Elite 8 64 Greatest NASCAR Drivers West Bracket

Photo credit: BethAnne Heisler - OnPitRow.com

Filed under: Dale Earnhardt, Darrell Waltrip, Jeff Gordon, Jimmy Johnson, NASCAR, NASCAR 64 Greatest Driver Tourney, Nascar Legends, The King, The Pettys, The Waltrips

Tagged with: Bobby Allison, David Pearson, Junior Johnson, NASCAR 64 Greatest Driver Tourney, NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers, Richard Petty, Tim Flock

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Darrell Waltrip vs Jimmie Johnson: NASCAR’s 64 Greatest Drivers Sweet 16

by Charlie Turner

April 19, 2009 11:50 am UTC 11 Comments

This is one of the toughest Sweet 16 stand-offs in the NASCAR 64 Greatest Drivers Tournament at Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie. Coming out of the One and Done region, two, three-time Cup series champions go head to head. One as brash and bold as anyone in sports; the other often seems to be forgotten – at least until the checkered flag flies.

Darrell Waltrip is a three-time Winston Cup Series champion – ’81, ’82 and ’85. In the 61 races run during ’81 and ’82, he won 24 times. Waltrip finished with 84 Cup victories ( tied for 3rd all-time) in 809 starts and qualified on the pole 59 times. And he made boogity, boogity, boogity famous. Or infamous.

Jimmie Johnson has 41 wins, 102 top fives and 158 top tens in his first 261 Sprint Cup Series races. He’s won three consecutive championships – tying Cale Yarborough for that record – was points runner-up in ’03 and ’04, won the ’06 Daytona 500 and three straight Coca Cola 600s from ’03-’05. And he’s handsome, polite and has a pretty wife. Hate the guy if you want.

J J had to get by NASCAR legend Red Byron in his opening rounder and two-time champ Buck Baker in the second. D W got two present day stars, starting with Kyle Busch and then former Cup champ Matt Kenseth. Two drivers who seem to be hated because they’re so good. I’m glad I get to vote last. Let us know who you like in the comment section.

Filed under: Darrell Waltrip, Daytona 500, Jimmy Johnson, NASCAR, NASCAR & the Media, NASCAR 64 Greatest Driver Tourney, Nascar Legends, The Waltrips

Tagged with: boogity boogity boogity, Buck Baker, Cale Yarborough, Coca Cola 600, NASCAR 64 Greatest Driver Tourney, NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers, Red Byron, Winston Cup

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