We have given Kurt Busch a lot of grief over the years; much of it a result of his own implosions. But, one thing we've never dinged him on is his driving ability. He is, without a doubt, one of the best shoes in the business.
Driving for the single car Furniture Row team, he has finished 7th or better in 5 of the last 7 races and has moved into the top-10 in points. That's right, he's in a Chase spot.
And, there's no reason to believe he can't stay there. His crew chief, Todd Berrier, has assembled a decent team around Busch, and they're not costing him good finishes. And, yes, they do have a relationship with Richard Childress. But, I'm guessing that I could count on my hands the number of folks who predicted Kurt Busch would get a single car team into the Chase.
There are a lot of rumors flying around saying that Kurt will be in an RCR car next year. But, would that be a good move for him? Among sponsors, he could still be considered damaged goods. And, right now, he's driving for a guy (and a sponsor) that knows exactly what he's getting. So far, that's been pretty good on; and off, the track.