Paul Woody: Versatile Kyle Busch shows a new way to win a race

If you want to beat Busch in a NASCAR Cup race, apparently you’re not going to do it even when he starts 32nd.

Busch provided convincing evidence of all this Saturday night at Richmond Raceway in the Toyota Owners 400 in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race. (Try saying that five times fast.)

“He’s really good at gaming the restarts,” said Denny Hamlin, Busch’s teammate at Joe Gibbs Racing and the driver who was trying to stay with Busch on those late restarts Saturday night at Richmond Raceway.

Hamlin finished third.

“He mixes it up with where he takes off,” Hamlin said. “And whenever you can dictate them, you really look strong.”

Busch not only controlled the late restarts, particularly the green-white-checkered flag sequence in overtime, he also controlled himself early in the race. He began the evening in the 32nd position and was sixth when the first stage of the race, 100 laps, ended.

It doesn’t hurt that the JGR drivers are in some of the best equipment on the Monster Energy circuit, but success also is a matter of what you can do in and with that equipment.

Busch can do just about anything he wants.

Saturday was his 46th Cup victory. He will be 33 on May 2 and is one of the youngest drivers in history to hit that number this early in his career.

Indications are he’s getting better with age, which is a good thing.

In his younger days, Busch was a bit more volatile. His emotions resembled a roller-coaster.

Then, if he had started 32nd, he might have sulked and pouted over a starting position so far back in the 38-car field.

Now, he seems to practically smile at the challenge in front of him.

“I was mightily impressed with how we started, and just kept my head down,” Busch said.

“We put ourselves in position to win all night long. Thanks to our pit crew. And our car was fast enough on short runs to be able to hold onto it right there.

“It’s cool to win three in a row. We did in in ’15 and almost won four in a row, but we run out of gas. Next week, we go to Talladega, and I think it’s easier to win Powerball than win at Talladega. But we’ll keep digging.”

Busch tied Buck Baker, a NASCAR Hall of Fame member, for 15th all-time in victories on NASCAR’s top circuit.

“It’s nice to tie a Hall of Famer and climb the ladder of wins,” Busch said.

Hamlin said, “He’s winning them different ways. They’re winning in dominating fashion. They’re winning by being up front and putting themselves in position, and tonight they probably won on pit road.”

Well, Busch didn’t win just because of what happened on pit road, although that didn’t hurt. He also won because he’s one of the best drivers in NASCAR.

His equipment helps, there’s no doubt about that.

But Busch probably would be competitive if he was running in a soap box derby racer.

And perhaps Busch has mellowed.

“I don’t think so,” Hamlin said, smiling. “I think he’s the same guy. He’s obviously matured. He’s got kids [one child, a son, Brexton.] Samantha [Busch’s wife] is a good support group for him.

“I think he’s just gotten older. That’s the biggest thing. Once you get in your 30s, it seems like a lot of things change personally for you. It’s just a different kind of fun when you’re a little bit older. He’s really ultra-focused on trying to win more championships, as we all are. But he’s been a great teammate, especially this year. This year, we’ve probably talked more than we ever have. I think our relationship is as good as it’s ever been.”

Winning a fourth straight race is not easy under any circumstances, especially with the Fords driven by Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer running so well.

The degree of difficulty really does increase at Talladega, a superspeedway, restrictor-plate race where anything can, and usually does, happen.

What happens next week is beside the point for Busch. He’s one of the best drivers in NASCAR now.

Before his career ends, and that could be in a decade or more, Busch has a chance to establish himself as one of the best drivers in NASCAR history.