CRANDALL: Everything really is great for Kyle

Kyle Busch went out and did what he does best Sunday afternoon at Phoenix International Raceway.

After a week of controversy surrounded him because of his post-race actions at Las Vegas, Busch took his Skittles Toyota to the front of the field when it mattered most in the Camping World 500. By day's end, Busch had led a race-high 114 laps, and he very well could have wound up in Victory Lane had it not been for an ill-timed caution.
But such is life in racing – especially if you're Kyle Busch.

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver escaped a fine or suspension, even probation, from NASCAR last week for his swing at Joey Logano. So when he showed up in Phoenix and gave the same iteration for every question asked of him early in the weekend, some might have missed how it was laced in truth.

"Everything's great," Busch continually said, followed by how he was glad to get back in his racecar.

Yes, getting in his racecar. Busch knew there was the possibility he might have been told to leave Las Vegas and just head straight to this weekend's stop in California. After all, Busch knows what it's like to watch someone else drive for him. His retaliation against Ron Hornaday in 2011 during the Camping World Truck Series race at Texas resulted in him being parked for the remainder of the weekend.

Being at Phoenix must have been a relief, so excuse Busch for having already avoided punishment (although he still does not believe Logano's version of events) but still addressing the media without making things worse and using a touch of honesty.

That continued after the race when Busch, who finished third, faced the media again. But having led 113 of the final 119 laps, many expected Busch to sulk away or give a terrible interview.

Instead, Busch started with, "Everything's great.

"We got a top-five finish, and that's what we set out to do today, and we got third, so we should be pumped about that and how good this Skittles Camry ran today. It was awesome there at the end, and the guys made some really good calls there – [crew chief] Adam [Stevens] and the guys did a good job being able to make some good adjustments and make it feel better once we got out front."

Once out front, Busch took over and was nearly untouchable. Capping off his week with a win just wasn't meant to be. But everything is still great.

"We just got caught up in traffic a little bit early in the race, but we were mindful of that and just kind of bided our time and got up to the front when we did," Busch said. "But we had a little miscue there on pit road with Kurt, and from there it was just too many cars that stayed out.

"If it was just two that stayed out maybe, but we really needed the outside [lane] like [Kyle] Larson had. Overall, we should be proud of our run today, and we'll move on."