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COPYRIGHT 2006 Sporting News Publishing Co.
As the younger brother of an outspoken and often controversial former Cup driver, Todd Bodine
"Kurt sympathizes with the pressure Kyle Busch faces operating in Kurt's shadow. "Kurt preceded him and didn't exactly set the best example," Bodine says. "So Kyle has to work harder at building his reputation."
Last week, the 21-year-old Kyle was docked 25 points and fined $50,000 after throwing his HANS device at Casey Mears' car in the Coca-Cola 600. On April 12, he was ticketed for reckless driving in Richmond and eventually pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of improper driving. At Phoenix, Busch served a five-lap penalty for rough driving after slamming into Meats when the race was red-flagged. And defending Cup champ Tony Stewart was none too happy with Hendrick Motorsports' sophomore sensation at Daytona.
It's as though Busch is determined to embrace his chosen nickname "Rowdy"--a moniker borrowed from the bad-ass character in Days of Thunder.
Bodine says Kyle "can't live down what (his) brother has done," nor can he "live down the perception the fans and media have," especially when siblings are automatically guilty by association. Other brothers--the Wallaces, for example--have experienced a similar plight. Still, an increased perception of...
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