Seven wins, the lead in the points and the affection of Samantha Sarcinella all point to a dream season for Kyle Busch. Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR

MOORESVILLE, North Carolina -- Ah, to be 23 and Kyle Busch.

While most people in their early 20s are struggling to begin their professional careers or personal relationships, Busch just keeps on winning races, proving that he is by far the best driver in NASCAR in 2008.

With seven wins in his first 19 races this season, he has joined Darrell Waltrip (1981) and the late Dale Earnhardt ('87) as the only drivers to achieve that impressive accomplishment.

Moreover, Saturday's win at Chicago gave Busch a whopping 262-point lead over Dale Earnhardt Jr., who just happens to be the driver who took over Busch's ride at Hendrick Motorsports when Busch was turned loose last year.

It's not only that Busch has won so many races for Joe Gibbs Racing this year, but also how he has won. He either dominates or snatches away victory at the last moment, as he did in the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona two weeks ago and at Chicagoland Saturday night.

Carl Edwards was on the short end of that battle at Daytona and it was Jimmie Johnson's turn at Chicagoland, in the lead only to see it disappear as Busch's Toyota went blazing past.

"I've watched Jimmie Johnson do that a few times and I don't know how I did that," Busch admitted. "Jimmie was going to bring us down slow. I remember this from short track days when somebody was in your mirror and you creep up on them. You stop and they'll go up on you. Well, I just went -- I pushed Jimmie to go and was like, 'let's go man, here we go.'

"That was the saving grace right there was a good restart. I just had to go to the outside because he was going to block the bottom in turn one and two. It sucked for me out there. I don't know how, why or whatever. Steve Addington (crew chief) and these guys deserve this one here. It was a great car out front all night. We got back in traffic and complained about it a lot. When we got back out front it felt good again. I knew when Jimmie got us here that clean air was going to be it. Luckily we got that caution and got back by him."

That is the latest move that adds up to an incredible season for Busch.

"I really don't believe how good things are going," Busch said. "It's just been a phenomenal year. Something just so special. I have to thank the good Lord from up above. I don't know where this is coming from, but he's blessing us all at Joe Gibbs Racing this year. This is just a privilege to be a part of and we're so proud."

But even with such an outstanding start to the season, it doesn't ensure Busch the title. After all, his dominance can disappear in the 10-race "Chase for the Championship" if another driver gets hot at the end of the season. That is what happened last year to Jeff Gordon, who put up a Busch-like lead in the regular season before Johnson got hot in "The Chase."

After the "Smoke" clears

Now that Tony Stewart has made his decision to become an owner/driver in Sprint Cup at Stewart Haas Racing, another major piece of his puzzle fell into place Monday at noon when Daytona 500 winner Ryan Newman was granted his release from Penske Racing.

That means Newman is now free to join Stewart on the same team in '09.

"We want to thank Ryan for his hard work and contributions to Penske Racing over the past nine years," said team owner Roger Penske. "We wish Ryan all the best for the future and we'll continue to focus our efforts on making the Chase with Ryan and the Alltel Dodge team this season."

Newman, driver of the No. 12 Alltel Dodge Charger, is currently in his ninth season competing for Penske Racing. He is 16th in the Cup Series standings through 19 races this season.

The driver of the Penske Racing No. 12 Alltel car for the 2009 NASCAR Cup season will be announced in the near future.

Three big names to re-sign with IndyCarCAR

Helio Castroneves, Tony Kanaan and Dan Wheldon have all confirmed they will sign new contracts that will keep them with their current IndyCar Series teams.

Castroneves will remain at Team Penske, where he has raced since '00. Kanaan said he plans on signing a new deal with Andretti Green Racing later this month, extending a relationship that began with the '03 IndyCar Series season. Team co-owner Kevin Savoree confirmed the two are in negotiations for a new deal and expect to have it completed later this month.

Wheldon confirmed on Saturday that he has agreed to terms to remain with Target/Chip Ganassi Racing in the IndyCar Series. Wheldon, who won the '05 IndyCar title for Andretti Green Racing, has been with the Target team since '06.

With those three secured for '09, it leaves Marco Andretti as the only driver yet to sign for next season, but the son of team owner Michael Andretti is expected to stay with Andretti Green Racing.

Castroneves was always expected to stay in the IndyCar Series despite an erroneous report by the Los Angeles Times in May that said he was considering a jump to NASCAR. Castroneves vehemently denied that report before the Indianapolis 500 and said the reporter, Jim Peltz, had pressured him into a positive response with his line of questioning.

Prior to unification, Wheldon had talked about trying NASCAR but said now that the IndyCar Series is whole, he plans on remaining an IndyCar driver.

Kanaan had been rumored to be a prospect for Team Penske when Ryan Briscoe got off to a slow start, but Briscoe won at Milwaukee, and his confidence level has increased with that operation.

"By re-signing with Andretti Green I'll be pretty much done," Kanaan said. "I'm 33. It won't be a short deal. Driving for Roger Penske would be great but I can't say it's my dream. It's a good team -- as good as mine. If I had the opportunity I would do it, but I'm pretty good where I am right now. Right now, I think Roger is pretty happy with Ryan Briscoe."