Why Another Brickyard 400 Win May Mean Another Title for Kyle Busch

On nine occasions, Brickyard 400 winners have rolled on to win NASCAR's most prestigious title.

While it had been six years since the last Indianapolis Motor Speedway victor accomplished that feat, defending Sprint Cup champion Kyle Busch rode the momentum from the prestigious event all the way to last year's championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Can Busch and the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing team repeat their 2015 accomplishment come November?

The last — and the only other — driver to earn consecutive Brickyard 400 wins and NASCAR championships was Jimmie Johnson in the 2008-2009 seasons. Johnson is the only driver to win Indy and then the title three times.

But clearly, Busch has discovered the secret to success at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Perhaps what makes his performances even more remarkable is Busch's ability to be so dominant with two different aerodynamic packages, not to mention a new right-side tire.

"I just knew that we'd have a shot coming to Indy since these guys do such a great job," Busch said after the race. "(Crew chief) Adam (Stevens) sets up an awesome race car. The thing was awesome to drive. It was on rails. This Skittles Camry was phenomenal.

"I can't thank everyone from Toyota enough. To collect four wins so far so far this year, that just means we're hungry for more."

No one can question Busch's drive and determination. At this point last season, Busch had run just nine of 20 races after suffering a horrific crash at Daytona that left the driver sidelined for three months with a broken leg and foot. Still, Busch had won four of the first nine races after his return. Although Busch didn't win again until the season finale at Homestead, the No. 18 crew — led by Stevens — appears to have figured out a lot more than just Indy.

"At this level of motorsports and the competition level across the field, you can't hit on one thing and beat people," Stevens said. "You have to hit on everything. There's 550 employees at JGR to make sure we are working on everything that makes a race car go fast.

"At the end of the day, it comes down between the communication between the driver and the crew chief and the team and taking what he's saying the car is doing and what it's not doing and translating that into changes that make the car better. That's Kyle's strong suit. I think you're seeing a little bit of that."

What should put Busch's competition on notice is his ability to win at two tracks earlier this season — Kansas Speedway and Martinsville Speedway — both of which are part of the Chase. Kansas has been a challenge for Busch over the years, but his average finish in his last three starts is third. Martinsville has been a mixed bag for Busch as well, but in April he led 352 of 500 laps. His closest competition from Gibbs — which ultimately will be his greatest obstacle in the playoffs — was Carl Edwards in sixth.

All five JGR Toyotas — including Furniture Row Racing which shares a technical alliance with Gibbs — have won this year and for all intent and purpose have earned a Chase berth. Toyota has also won have of the Cup races this season.

Given the power shown by the Toyotas in practice and qualifying at Indy, it's not surprising that Team Penske used a different race strategy in an effort to gain an advantage. It was going to be nearly impossible to knock the Toyotas off their game on performance alone.

Although Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano led circuits by staying out on the track, by Lap 80, Kyle Larson was the only Chevy nestled among the five JGR Toyotas. Logano, who finished second to Busch last year, was eighth. Twenty laps later, Busch had extended his lead to 5.5-seconds over Edwards followed by Matt Kenseth and Truex. Larson was holding onto fifth with Kevin Harvick, Logano, Tony Stewart and Keselowski in tow. Had there not been a rash of cautions in the closing laps, Toyota would have likely swept the podium as well.

Busch sized up the competition following his win.

"I think any of us (Toyotas) have a shot to win on any given week," Busch said. "We all have a great communication and camaraderie and are able to work together well and that's what makes this team so strong."

It's also what might make the Toyota contingent unstoppable come November.

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