Friday, December 23rd 'What If' Question

In what continues to be the most exciting and busiest NASCAR offseason yet, new rumors swirled on Friday that there's a possibility that Kyle Busch won't be running in the Camping World Truck Series and in very limited Nationwide Series races. That coming at the request of his Sprint Cup team owners Joe Gibbs Racing and sponsor M&M's.

The last time Busch raced in the lower divisions he was involved in an altercation with Ron Hornaday under caution in Texas. After the two made contact racing for the second position, Busch wrecked Hornaday purposely when the caution came out and then commented about having no remorse afterwards. NASCAR parked Busch for the remainder of the weekend and he didn't participate in the CWTS or NNS the final two weeks of the season and M&M's pulled their sponsorship from his Cup car the last two races of the season as well.

While there is no known reason for the request by JGR and M&M's it most likely has to do with Busch's past actions. In 2011 he won six races in the CWTS, moving his career total to 30, he won eight NNS races, career total now at 51, but in the Cup Series he won four times and has 23 careers wins. Busch continues to shine more in the lower divisions than in Cup, where he's still searching for his first championship.

There's also the long running debate that Busch has been apart of in whether Cup drivers should race in the lower divisions. In this case, M&M's might be thinking that it's time to focus solely on Cup, not just to minimize any potential controversy but to move closer to winning the championship. Drivers who run in CWTS and NNS race haven't transfered that success to the Cup Series, although Carl Edwards who does not run trucks but does run Nationwide, nearly won the Cup title this past season.

Whatever the reason may be to have Busch not run anymore races than necessary, it could be a blessing. More focus on Cup could turn into more success for the Las Vegas driver. Of course it will hurt those in the CWTS and NNS who rely on Busch for a job, the hope being that with Busch sidelined there will be other drivers to fill the seats and obligations. Older brother Kurt is rumored to be driving for KBM in the NNS in 2012.

At this point however, these are all just rumors. It's quite possible that Busch will be running in all three series, continuing to add up his win total and re-write the history books, he's currently the winningest driver in NNS history. And along the way he'll probably ruffle some more feathers and create some new rivals. Whatever the case may be, Busch will be one of the main storylines, again, come 2012.

But ...

What if rumors of @KyleBusch not running in Trucks & very limited Nationwide are true, will that pave way to his best year in Cup? #NASCAR

@scienceesl I really think it would. Personally I think he spends to much time in the other series to make a good run at cup

@NancyatStudioN What it will do is severely hurt KBM as a business and put even more #Nascar workers out of a job

@denver2u I doubt that, but it will def save lots of money in auto repair..for him and others...

@krisjohnson_sd Sponsors will dictate he runs in both – in some capacity. #NASCAR