Submitted by NASCAR Eclectic

I was watching the Philadelphia Flyers - Washington Capitals play-off game the other night and something hit me, something I should have seen long ago but didn’t - Kyle Busch is NASCAR’s version of the NHL’s Alexander Ovechkin.

That’s right, he is.

Putting aside the obvious fact that they are not in the same sport, or even from the same country, they are both brash young stars in their perspective sports.

It has been said that Kyle Busch is the only driver who can drive 3-wide all by himself, well have you ever seen Ovechkin skate? That guy skates 3-wide all by himself.

Have you ever seen the goal he scored while sliding on his back head first toward the boards with his face turned away from the net? Ovechkin may never be the next Wayne Gretzky, but Gretzky never scored a goal like that. In fact, Ovechkin scored that goal in front of Greztky as he was playing against the team Gretzky is coach for.

Ovechkin pushes himself to the limit every time he is on the ice, skating with youthful fearlessness, hungry for the next goal and the victory. Every time Ovechkin puts on his visored helmet he goes full throttle flat out until the final siren. Sounds familiar doesn’t it? Just change ice to track, and goal to green flag and you’ve got Kyle Busch.

They even are the same age; Busch was born on May 2, 1985, while Ovechkin was born on September 17th, 1985.

They both started their careers at a young age. They are both outspoken at times. They both have been held back at times, not because of their lack of skill but due to their young age (Busch has sat out races because they have been sponsored by companies that are not allowed to sell to anyone under 18 yrs of age and he was younger than 18 at the time). And most importantly, I hated them both just a few short years ago (even last year).

I disliked Ovechkin when he was on the Russian Junior Hockey Team. I disliked Kyle when he drove for Hendrick Motorsports. Now, as they both have matured, I am much more tolerant of them both.

I may never be a true Kyle Busch fan, or a true Ovechkin fan, but I certainly enjoy watching them do what they do. I also respect and appreciate them for the athletes that they are - you never know what they will do next, how they will pull that next win out of a hat.

I’ll announce the winner to the Daytona 500: 50th Anniversary DVD Contest tomorrow!