Should NASCAR race on dirt ovals too, to throw a bit of variety out there? I'm getting bored of too many tracks looking the same on TV.
Bill Mahoney, Charleston, S.C.
“Not sure that's something I'd like to see with the Cup cars because some of the guys come from dirt, but I didn't grow up racing on those types of tracks. Not to say that the Eldora race wasn't a lot of fun in a dirt late model. It was a blast. I ended up third in Scott Bloomquist's car there and also raced at Williams Grove on dirt in Kasey Kahne's charity race, but not sure those are right for a Cup race. The facilities aren't built for the crowds that we get.”
Who would you most want to see take the Cup – one of your JGR teammates or your brother?
Mike Gee, Youngstown, Ohio
“I'd like to see my brother do well, but I'm committed to helping Denny (Hamlin) win the championship as much as I can and to steal as many points away from the other guys. All of the focus is going on the 11 and I'll do my best to help Denny out and bring Joe Gibbs Racing a championship and hopefully I can do my part on the racetrack as well as on just giving the best advice from my car and helping those guys.”
If you look back at Kyle Busch around 2006, and Kyle Busch now, what ways would you say you've improved (in or out of the cockpit)? For what it's worth, I think you seem better in interviews now.
Nate Endswick, Galveston, Texas
“Inside the racecar, fans might not see this, but I'm so much more patient that I used to be. A lot of times before, I would get impatient early in a race and end up wrecking myself or running into problems. I'm much more patient throughout the race. When it's time to go at the end of the race for a win, then I'm still that aggressive person, but I have learned to be patient before then.”
If they changed the schedule so it could happen, would you be interested in doing the Indy 500 and Coke 600? What do you think of IndyCar racing?
Katie Swann, Indianapolis, IN
“I've never even tried an IndyCar, so I think that wouldn't make sense. I think its tough to do because of that and the fact that the sponsors over here are so important and you really could take away from a lot of things on the Cup side, which would be the priority.”
If you quit now, do you think the fans and the media would remember you as a great racecar driver in terms of your wins-per-start ratio?
John Lovell, Atlanta, Ga.
“I think it might be a little too early in my career to look at that. I'm still 24. I just go out there every race and try to win, or at least do the best as I can. I enjoy setting records for sure, but hard to say years from now how I will be judged as a driver. I hope we win many more races and will see where I end up some day.”
Do you like being seen as the Bad Guy among the fans? Or do you just not care?
Dave Lester, Portland, Ore.
“I would say neither. I just don't let it bother me, so it is what it is. When I came into this sport I was booed my first ever Busch Series race and I hadn't done anything at that point, it was just judging off what my brother has done. As long as I'm trying to win and the fans are making some noise, I know I'm doing something right.”
Do you do much of a workout between races? Do you have a high metabolic rate, or is it hard for you to stay slim? And do you actually eat a lot of M&Ms?!
Jake Gentry, Indianapolis, IN.
“I've been joking that I've been growing into my man weight this year. I used to work out a few years ago and kind of found it didn't really give me an advantage. You still have to stay somewhat fit, don't get me wrong, but it didn't change things for me like it has for some other guys. And yes I do eat M&M's. Almond ones are my favorite, but it isn't why I've grown into my man weight.”
If you want to know what Kyle thinks about his rivals, the teams, the tracks, the chance of switching to Formula 1 – anything at all, just email your questions to ask-kyle@racer.com, and we will publish the best of the questions and answers. -Ed.