Kyle Busch will make the 500th start of his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career Sunday when the green flag waves for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the second race of the 2019 season.
“I think it means that I’m old,” Busch said. "But seriously, just makes you reflect on all the great things we’ve been able to accomplish over the years and all the people that have helped me get to where I am and win all the races we’ve been able to win. You just think of all the guys at JGR and Toyota and all the guys on my teams that have helped me accomplish everything that I have in my career."
Sunday's milestone achievement will be the second milestone reached by Busch during the Atlanta NASCAR weekend. On Saturday evening, he became the winningest driver in NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series history when he won the Ultimate Tailgating 200 for his 52nd-career win in that series.
Busch has raced for two teams in the Cup Series, dating back to a partial schedule with Hendrick Motorsports in 2004. He went full-time as driver of the No. 5 HMS Chevrolet the following year drove that car for three seasons before moving to Joe Gibbs Racing to drive the No. 18 Toyota in 2008. He was released by Hendrick Motorsports at the end of the 2007 to make room for NASCAR's Most Popular Driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Busch arrived at JGR, already a four-time winner in the Cup Series, including the first race for the failed Car of Tomorrow at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2007, but JGR was where Busch's career really took off. Upon his arrival, Busch won eight races his first year there, including the first race for Toyota at Atlanta. In addition to Busch's hire JGR had also made the switch to Toyota during the previous offseason.
"Atlanta is a place that has a lot of great memories since we were able to bring home the first win ever for Toyota and for Snickers and everyone at Mars back in 2008; that was very special,” Busch said. "Really appreciate everyone at Mars and Snickers for the 500th start helmet they surprised me with last weekend at Daytona that I’ll wear this weekend. It’s really cool, and I’m hoping it brings us some good luck and we can bring home our first win of the season with our Snickers Creamy Camry.”
That 2008 season was the first of two eight-win seasons for Busch. He matched that tally in 2018 when he tied Kevin Harvick for most wins on the season. Also since joining the Gibbs organization, Busch has become a Cup Series champion, reaching that feat in 2015, despite missing the first 11 races of the season as a result of injuries sustained in the season-opening NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Daytona International Speedway.
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