With the passage of time, some relationships evolve beyond professional courtesies. After sharing a garage for years, the mere tag of colleagues does not suffice. This is evident across all spheres of the world—and even in NASCAR. 

Driving in NASCAR is not just restricted to personal wins or losses but also encompasses team performance as a unit. This requires a deeper level of trust and understanding between the drivers and crew members. It all boils down to a complete synergy. And Kyle Busch can surely vouch for that.

Kyle Busch is all praises for his former employees but with a drop of sourness

William Byron has been having the best of seasons. So far in the season, the spectators have seen the dominance of the Hendrick Motorsports prodigy. This young driver has scored the most number of victories, three to be exact, followed by Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson. 

After being appreciated by current bosses Jeff Gordon and Rick Hendrick for winning the Goodyear 400, Byron has now received appreciation from his previous employer, Busch. Byron used to drive the #51 truck in the Truck Series for Kyle Busch Motorsports. 

In the short clip posted by Zach Sturniolo on Twitter, Busch can be seen showering praises on Byron. The video is captioned, “ICYMI: Kyle Busch has a unique perspective on one of his biggest competitors these days — the @Hendrick24Team. With William Byron and leading the series in wins, Busch isn’t surprised at the success they’re reaching together.“

Mentioning Byron’s performances in the Truck Series and his history with Rudy Fugle, former KBM crew chief at KBM, Busch said, “Him and Rudy [Fugle] were amazing here and had great results. And now they’re having great results on the Cup side as well.  So you know, took a couple of years of learning the ropes of the Cup series for William, which is to be expected out of anybody, right?”

Interestingly, Fugle left KBM for HMS in 2021 and is the crew chief of the #24 Chevy driven by Byron. The 2x Cup Champion also added, “But ever since being paired with Rudy again, it seems like those two have a knack for one another. And Rudy is really good at what he does, I know that very well. Having him here at KBM for so many years, so you know that doesn’t surprise me.”

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Revealing his mixed feelings, Busch added, “But I would like to say that I’m happy for him but on the other hand I’m not, because I’d rather have Rudy here on the Truck Side, with us at KBM. And I’d rather be beating William on Sunday.”

A bitterness still lingers in the heart of RCR’s driver

Kyle Busch has reasons to be happy and grumpy at the same time. It was through Kyle Busch Motorsports that William Byron made his debut in the world of NASCAR in the Truck Series Championship, back in 2015. And Byron’s crew chief was none other than Rudy Fugle.

Busch had also expressed his displeasure when Byron took Fugle with him when he joined HMS. He stated, “I still blame him for stealing Rudy Fugle from Kyle Busch Motorsports who’s now his crew chief. So I’m pissed off about that but he’s a good kid so he deserves a chance and he’s making the most of that chance right now. He’s doing a good job.”

This young and promising HMS driver has surely a long way to go and a lot to learn from his current as well as his former teams. He is surrounded by a roster of great drivers and teachers to learn from. He is surely a champion in the making. 

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