It's The Show: The Kyle Busch Show That Is

The Budweiser Shootout. A time at the begin of the race season that gets it all started again. Fans begin to refill that void in their lives. Drivers get to get back to doing what they love. Media members try to get that first big story of the year. It's the smell of burning rubber and race fuel that gets everyone going again. It may not be a points race, but it's definitely something everyone looks forward to after a three month off season.

February 18, 2012 would have seemed like just another Saturday to most people. But to a racing fan, or a racer themself, it was much more than that. This was the day of the Budweiser Shootout. A day that racers and fans alike have been waiting for three months to arrive. The drivers were all so ready to get back to racing. After the starting position draw the night before, everyone was anxious to get to racing. And that they did. But it wasn't all fun and games like everyone expected.

With the new rules and regulations NASCAR has set, we still had tandem racing. But pack racing had returned to us once again. And with this pack racing return, it brought with it close quarters, and little room for mistakes. But there were lots of mistakes in this race. It all started with a mishap that took out quite a few drivers including 2011 July Daytona winner David Ragan, and 2 time Daytona 500 champion, Michael Waltrip. But this wasn't the end of it. After the 10 minute break, another rough crash broke out. This time, two cars who were strong all night were involved. These were the #20 car of Joey Logano and the #88 car of Dale Earnhardt Jr, both of whom are really needing a good season this year. Then as the end of the race was nearing, yet another rough crash broke out. This one was probably the worst all night. It involved 5 time champion, Jimmie Johnson, who plowed straight into teammate Jeff Gordon. Gordon, who got the worst of the crash, flipped multiple times after being hit by Johnson when he spun. This was the first time in Gordon's career that he had been off his wheels and on his top.

As if all this wasn't enough, Kyle Busch was the one to keep an eye on all night. After nearly being spun out when bumped by Jimmie Johnson, Busch had the most incredible save people had seen in a long time. But Busch wouldn't be able to do it just once. Later, when he was bumped by Gordon from behind, he had another incredible spin save, while Gordon was spun  into Johnson, which resulted in his flip. However, Kyle didn't stop there. Kyle's car may have been looking very rough, and he may have faced race ending wrecks twice, he didn't let that stop him. On the green-white-checkered restart, Kyle was back in the 9th position. But by the time he came around for the white flag, he was 2nd, right behind defending Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart. And he was hot on his trail. As Busch pushed Stewart away from the pack, it seemed as though Stewart would walk away with the victory. But we all know Kyle Busch has to put on a show. And that's exactly what he did, was put on a show. A certain one that we call, The Kyle Busch Show. Coming out of turn 4, Busch decided he didn't want Stewart to win, and pulled a slingshot move. By 1/100th of a second, Kyle Busch made the checkered flag his.

It was a great way to start the NASCAR season. And if this is any indication of how the rest of the season will be, then I say, Bring It On! Congratulations to Kyle Busch, his team, and the whole Joe Gibbs Racing Organization. And here's to a fantastic, heart pounding, nerve racking 2012 season. NASCAR is back baby!