Maybe it's better off as a Busch league

DAYTONA BEACH -- Kyle Busch just wants to pass off the advice he's been given so many times during his colorful NASCAR career, and in the process he just might spark some more interest in stock-car racing's top levels.

Busch certainly had some choice words for Martin Truex Jr. after the Camping World 300 for the NASCAR Nationwide Series on Saturday. Seems Truex voiced his displeasure with the way Busch was driving in the closing laps of the event, won by Busch's teammate Tony Stewart. Truex accused Busch of blocking.

"What else you gonna do, man? Shoot, he's pushing me through the tri-oval, wanting to spin me out," said Busch, who finished second, one spot ahead of Dale Earnhardt Jr. "I'm sorry I saved it and kept it in front of him."

And then he had this to say to Truex: "Grow up, bud."

Busch had the race lead with 5 laps remaining and then took it back with a lap and a half remaining after Stewart passed him in turn 2 on lap 118 of 120. Stewart finally took the lead for good heading into turn 3 on that very same circuit, leaving Truex and Earnhardt to try and split up the Joe Gibbs Racing stranglehold of Stewart and Busch.

Truex tried to get under Busch through turns 1 and 2, but Busch held him off with momentum down the backstretch.

Busch then got flip when answering a question about Truex's criticism, firing off in a way that was equal parts funny and hostile.

"What does he want me to do? Pull over?" Busch asked. "Next question."

While Busch's driving ability is stunning, his own maturity level has been called into question on several occasions.

He once left a race while his crew was still making repairs to the car, and he's suggested that NASCAR wants to raise the age limit on drivers in the Sprint Cup Series once again as a "Kyle Busch rule" aimed at limiting the off-the-track issues he's had.

Just last season, he made for an ugly split with former employer Hendrick Motorsports, saying he felt that he wasn't being offered the same information as his other teammates and that he felt his team was left to race alone.

But Busch might be just the thing NASCAR needs this season as it pledges to return to its roots. One night he's taking an ill-handling Truck and wrestling it all over the place en route to a podium finish not many others could muster; the next afternoon he's firing off-the-cuff criticism the way of Goodyear.

"I've gotten a real good feel for the tires this week. They're junk," he said. "They were terrible today. They were terrible last night (in the Truck race). So, I expect (the Daytona 500) to be a whole lot of fun."

He's young, he's brash and he's supremely talented and quotable. Could be just what NASCAR is looking for to resurrect a sport plagued by plunging television ratings and sagging ticket sales.

Maybe he can help the sport "grow up, bud."