Friday, August 27th "What If" Question

This was the very first "What If" question and after getting as much feedback as I did, decided to make it a nightly tradition.

What if Kyle Busch never left Hendrick Motorsports? Would he be as dominate as he is with Joe Gibbs Racing & Toyota?

Kyle Busch was the young, fresh-faced kid at HMS and was most likely well on his way to having a lifelong career there .. until the most popular driver came along. Rick Hendrick signed Dale Earnhardt Jr. to a multi-year contract but needed a seat for Earnhardt Jr. and it came at the expense of Busch. He was quickly snatched up by Joe Gibbs Racing and during the 2008 season Busch made everyone but JGR look bad. He went from two wins during his career at HMS to eight in one season.

It didn't end there, he started running more Nationwide and Truck Series races and couldn't be stopped. In 2009 he won his first Nationwide Series Championship and before the start of the 2010 season started his won truck team. He's now at 79 career victories across the top three series.

But, he needed to leave HMS for it all to happen. What if he didn't ...

The floor opened and here were the responses:

@Matt_Kacar No. He never fit in with the Hendricks cup program. Plus we all know JJ gets the good stuff. Lol jk. Hendrick is a no personality organization. Busch was able to be top dog at Gibbs. It is shocking that Jr is running bad even though Hendrick said he was gonna fix it.

@Ol_Man_Winter Probably not. It takes money to win. If I remember correctly didn't Hendrick or Childress (or both) have to beg Chevy for more support? Meanwhile, it seems like Toyota is pouring tons of money into the sport of NASCAR, which definitely helps Kyle. I'm not sure which one had to beg, but I'm certain Chevy made cutbacks due to bad economy. Chevy took government bailout $$$$

@TomDignanSr He was in the same boat as @DaleJR at HMS. R+D for the 48 and 24. #DontGetMeStarted

@kbm18 Yes, @HendrickInfo wants the money and its coming from Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson

@NancyatStudioN l I don't think HMS would have allowed KB the freedom to race as much as he does. I think they tried to fit him into their mold. HMS traded the better driver for the most popular driver - and the sponsorship $ and souvenir $ that came with him. I think he wasn't winning b/c they thought he was too young to tell them what he needed & they didn't listen to him. Looking back, I think KB would never have fit into the HMS mold - which is why BV left for Red Bull. I mean HMS thought that - JGR let him be him & gave him what he asked for - they even let Addington go for him

@brandongraves20 I would have to say yes he would be dominated if he stayed with HMS. Well thats easy he adapted to Steve Addington better than Alan Gustafson.

@mbauerherzog I think Kyle just clicks better with the people at Gibbs more than the older type drivers at HMS.

@mark_schafer On the difference part, I'm not sure Hendrick would allow Busch to race as much in the other series. But I could be wrong. Either way he'd be robbing one of the Labontes of a number they made great. Oh I mean no, I dont think he would be as good.

@smokinace88 Because Kelly it's just Like Junior can do amazing in his own car with a RCR engine Rick doesnt really care. Rick Hendrick only really wants drivers to make money ... Joe Gibbs wants drivers to win races. I think it's cuz Kyle can be himself at Gibbs while at Hendrick he had to act a certain way. My opinion is this Kyle does Nationwide does amazing, sets him up ready for race day in cup

@TJIngerson It was a change in attitude for him when Hendrick let him go. Said talent can only go so far need the attitude too.

@Emily_988 I think it's similar to the McMurray situation. The driver can be good & the team can be good, but they're not good together.

@kartracer3886 If kyle stays at HMS I bet he would not run near as much as he does