Three weeks ago, Kyle Busch’s mother Verna made a little room on the mantle above the fireplace in the family’s living room.  The place of honor was expected to hold the younger Busch brother’s Sprint Cup trophy and would be proudly placed next to big brother Kurt’s championship trophy.  But Sunday evening, after Kyle had another disappointing finish at Kansas Speedway, Verna Busch decided it was probably time to fill that space in with assorted knick knacks.

“I was so embarrassed Saturday when the girls came over for bridge club,” said Mrs. Busch.  “Dorothy Kenseth looked up at that mantle and asked me, in that snotty little tone of hers, what that space was for.  Everybody knows Dorothy Kenseth is a Class A busybody.  She knew darn well what that space was for!  She just wanted to rub it in with the rest of the girls in her typical passive aggressive little way.”

The other NASCAR mothers in attendance for the weekly bridge club session were visible uncomfortable by the situation and tried to make light of the situation before attempting to change the subject all together.

“I have to tell you, Dorothy sure could have handled things differently,” said Bertha Johnson.  “But on the other hand, Verna really shouldn’t have cleared that space off just yet.  It’s a little presumptuous.  Especially when my little Jimmie is running so well.”

In order to alleviate any further embarrassing incidents, Verna placed a Precious Moments figurine and a Build-A-Bear Mr. Busch bought her for Valentine’s Day with the slogan “Gettin’ Racy” across the front. 

While she hopes to one day fill that space with one of Kyle’s Sprint Cup championship trophies, she indicated that she will be making a visit to the Las Vegas Trophy Emporium this weekend to get a World’s Greatest Son trophy with Kyle’s name on it to fill the space in the meantime.