How far back is too far?

Alan Kulwicki, who was rookie of the year in 1986 and won the Winston Cup championship in 1992, gets ready to go at Charlotte Motor Speedway in October 1987. Kulwicki was among those killed in a plane crash near Bristol, Tenn., in April 1993. – Charlotte Observer file

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Who's hot and who's (or what's) not

Who's Hot

JIMMIE JOHNSON: Will soon begin his own "Drive for 5."

KYLE BUSCH: About to collect the first NASCAR championship of his career.

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Busch wraps up title

Kyle Busch made it a double dose of celebration, winning the Nationwide Series championship before completing a lap and capping his night at Homestead-Miami Speedway with his ninth trip to Victory Lane.

Busch held off a hard-charging Carl Edwards to win the Ford 300, a fitting ending because the two NASCAR stars finished 1-2 in the standings.

Busch only needed to start the race Saturday to win his first NASCAR title.

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Busch ready to wrap up Nationwide title

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Although Kyle Busch was unable to clinch the Nationwide championship last weekend at Phoenix, he will secure the title once he takes the green flag in Saturday's season-ending race at Homestead.

Carl Edwards postponed Busch's inevitable championship by leading the most laps and winning at Phoenix. Busch, who finished ninth and surprisingly did not lead a lap, left Phoenix with a 190-point lead over Edwards. If Busch would have held an advantage of 195 points or higher, he would have clinched the title there.

Busch is expected to become the eighth different series champion in the last 10 seasons. Kevin Harvick and Martin Truex Jr. won twice during that span.

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Title is big, but Busch wanted more

HOMESTEAD, Fla. Kyle Busch still wonders what could have been.

Even with eight Nationwide Series wins this season, 11 runner-up finishes and a guaranteed series championship as soon as he takes the green flag in Saturday's Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Busch still looks for more.

"You know, what would be impressive is if those 11 second-place finishes were wins," Busch said. "That would be 19 wins. That's what's stupid. That's what's silly."

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Martin settles for second

Typically, when a NASCAR driver does something that only Richard Petty and Bobby Allison have done before, it is a sign of excellence.

Not this time, not for Mark Martin.

His wait for a NASCAR championship will last at least another year.