“He Turned the Heel” – NASCAR Insider Reveals the Biggest Switch in the Drivers Villain Arc

Every sport in history has every now and then had its fair share of iconic names that have captivated the sport to great heights. Be it Michael Jordan from the NBA or Conor McGregor from UFC. NASCAR isn’t poles apart on that front as well, while the 75-year-old organization has had several greats over the years, there’s an iconic brother duo that has gained a legendary status in the sport’s playoff era.

It’s the Busch brothers out of Las Vegas. The duo of Kurt Busch and Kyle Busch over the years has had a strong impact on the sport unlike any other. It was the elder Kurt Busch who burst into the scene earlier, claiming the 2004 championship as he became the first Cup Series champion in the playoff era.

His brother, Kyle “Rowdy” Busch is still very much a part of the lead pack and has engraved his name as one of the sport’s all-time best. Recently, as the elder of the 2 announced his premature retirement from the sport in an emotional farewell, the spotlight was on the brothers who were once despised by the whole community for their brash, hot-headed personalities.

As we head into the 2023 playoffs rounds the scene has drastically changed with the NASCAR nation growing a strong affinity towards the two with larger-than-life fan bases of their own.

From villain to hero: The iconic Kurt Busch-Kyle Busch duo

Following a shocker of a race at Daytona, NASCAR nation received another shock treatment from Kurt Busch who announced his retirement at the iconic track. The 2004 Cup Series champion who suffered a horrific crash last year at Pocono was unable to get over the lingering effects of his head injury, prompting the great to end his career prematurely.

With the recent announcement, the driver’s illustrious career took precedence, and several enthusiasts chimed in with their takes. And one thing many fans pointed out was the brothers’ drastic heel turn. Both the brothers were really hated during their early careers just because of the sheer animosity and the raw emotion they brought to the track.

But as we approach the playoff rounds for the 2023 season, they have sort of become the community’s heartthrob. Especially, Kyle Busch who even shifted base to RCR, a team whose boss has been public about his opinion about the 2-time champion at one time. Reflecting on this Rubbin is Racing did an exceptional job summing up both the driver’s careers.

“Kyle Busch has gotten more fans and I think ever this season with the move to RCR and then Kurt Busch, we were in the drivers meeting this week at Daytona, shout out to Large for sneaking us in there and standing ovation for Kurt Busch as he announced his retirement,” said the host enthusiastically. 

Mentioning the elder driver’s astonishing track record in a number of teams, successfully getting along. The host said, “He did a great job, I mean he turned the heels, somehow he started out as kind of like a villain or like people you know love to ring against him.” As years progressed, fans sort out of started taking a liking to the duo’s rawness, something the host saw firsthand at the event, he said, “Now like I said everyone was on their feet, congratulating him on his career in his retirement, so you have to respect Kurt Busch in my opinion.”

Moreover, the drivers’ consistent performance has also influenced the community, especially “Rowdy” who has over 227 wins in NASCAR’s top three divisions, even prompting the organization to set up the game for others. To keep the champ from killing the competition out there on the track, they even had to adopt a new rule to keep the numbers in check.

NASCAR nation reacts to Kurt Busch’s bitter sweet retirement

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There is no question about the driver’s capabilities. The 45-year-old certainly has been exceptional wherever he went, meaning his ability to seamlessly adapt to the changing teams. Just to put things into simple perspective, in his career spanning about 23 years, Busch teamed up with 5 major teams with his latest being with Michael Jordan/Denny Hamlin partnered 23XI Racing.

WATCH THIS STORY: Kyle Busch makes blunt 5-word confession after heartbreak from Richard Childress 

Denny Hamlin was among the first to open up about his former driver’s sad retirement, the JGR veteran simply said, “I love it and I hate it.” Whereas Kurt’s younger sibling put out a warm tweet, congratulating his brother and appreciating his milestones.

NASCAR’s most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr. also dropped in his valuable thoughts, lauding the veteran’s adaptability, saying, “Kurt’s a heck of a driver but what his best quality was IMO, he made every team he raced for better. Several teams always improved with him behind the wheel.” 

READ MORE: Kyle Busch Joins In As the Entire NASCAR Grid Makes Brad Keselowski a Laughing Stock