Although Kyle Busch didn’t make the field for the Sprint Cup “Chase,” it has been a successful year for the Nevada driver on the nation’s short tracks.

Busch has competed frequently this season with the Indiana-based Champion Racing Association late model series and has found success at some of the biggest events of the year.

He started the year by capturing the Speed Fest event last January at Lanier Speedway in Georgia and won the Redbud 300 at Anderson Speedway in July. He also competed in a CRA event at Berlin Speedway in Michigan.

To cap off the year, Busch scored victories in two of the biggest late model races of the year. He recorded his first win at the Winchester 400 in October and capped off the year with a win last Sunday in the Snowball 300 at Five Flags Speedway in Florida.

I’m not a fan of the younger Busch, but I do admire the fact that he is one of the few, and maybe the only, NASCAR driver that competes on the nation’s short tracks. There is no denying that Busch is talented, and it won’t be long before he wins that Sprint Cup championship.

The thing that is amazing about Busch is that no matter what race he enters he has to be considered a challenger for the victory.

In other racing news

With the holiday shopping season under way, Rick Dawson — the owner of Anderson Speedway — has put together an offer for the race fan on your shopping list.

Anderson Speedway is selling 10 regular-season tickets for $75 and 20 season tickets for $100. The tickets are good for every Anderson Speedway event except for the Little 500 in May and the Redbud 300 in July.

For those fans purchasing the 20 tickets, it is a savings of more than $100 and will provide admission to late model and sprint car events during the regular season.

Tickets can be purchased at the Anderson Speedway booth at the Mounds Mall or by calling the speedway at 642-0206. There is a handling and shipping charge for mail orders.

The speedway also is selling tickets for the 62nd annual Pay Less Little 500 on May 29 at $27 and for the Redbud 300 on July 26 for $25. Busch will be competing in the Redbud 300, and additional NASCAR drivers are expected to compete in the CRA-sanctioned event.

The Danica Patrick watch came to an end Tuesday with the announcement that she will run select Nationwide Series events for JR Motorsports, which is owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr.

It will be interesting to see how Patrick deals with a full-bodied stock car. I’m guessing it will be a long learning curve.