Martinsville fans must not have gotten the message that Kyle Busch is making a conscious effort to be a better sport this year – either that, or they don’t care.
Kyle Busch Gets Rude Reception At Martinsville
Busch, who has increased his likability this season through his poise and maturity, was showered with the most noise at Martinsville – and it sounded like all boos.
Jeff Gordon got the second-most noise, leading the contingent of Hendrick Motorsports drivers in spots 2-5.
Also, Richard Childress Racing’s Jeff Burton – a Virginia native – made a rare appearance in the top 10.
Here’s who got the most noise in driver introductions at Martinsville, measured with a handheld decibel meter:
| Driver | dB | Type of Noise | Explanation | |||
| 1 | Kyle Busch | 85.8 | Boos | Fans not buying into new Kyle yet | ||
| 2 | Jeff Gordon | 84.1 | Mix | Had been getting all cheers recently | ||
| 3 | Jimmie Johnson | 83.0 | Mostly boos | Audible cheers mixed in with boos | ||
| 4 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | 82.1 | Cheers | Can you imagine the noise if he'd won? | ||
| 5 | Mark Martin | 81.7 | Cheers | Love for a veteran | ||
| 6 | Tony Stewart | 81.1 | Cheers | Poor qualifying spot meant fans were quieter, not warmed up yet | ||
| 7 | Kevin Harvick | 80.8 | Cheers | Lives very close to Martinsville track | ||
| 8 | Carl Edwards | 80.3 | Cheers | Popular driver | ||
| 9 | Jeff Burton | 79.4 | Cheers | Virginia native | ||
| 10 | Trevor Bayne | 79.2 | Cheers | Post-Daytona love continues |
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