If Kyle Busch doesn't make the Chase, it will be like watching American Idol without Simon Cowell, The Office with no Dwight or Desperate Housewives with no Gaby.

Yeah I said it, Gaby. Admit it, Busch is like a whiny princess sometimes, but that's precisely the reason why I love to watch him. I love to listen to his post-race interviews or any interview for that matter.

He makes me laugh and shake my head at the same time, especially when he says age-inappropriate things like, "mess with the bulls you get the horn." Who actually says that other than hillbilly cage fighters?

Or how about the time he, more or less, called Carl Edwards "Mr. Ed." Recall the 2008 Bristol night race where Busch finished second to Edwards, who I think has fine teeth by the way.

But nothing made me laugh as hard as when Busch, angry at Jason Leffler for wrecking him at Dover, answered an ESPN post-race question about Leffler racing him to closely in the corner. Kyle's one word response: "Duh!" He said "duh" in true third grader at the playground fashion. Busch, who is 24 years old, said the word "duh."

The things the driver says sometimes make you want to kick the cat. You promise to swear off NASCAR altogether and say bad things about his poor mother, but you refuse to turn the channel until you've heard his post race comments.

If Busch doesn't make the Chase, who will be the driver to flee awkwardly across race tracks trying to avoid the press, captivate media centers with his verbal duels with other drivers or draw the ire of the NASCAR legion each time he takes that in-your-face bow after a win.

The thing is, Busch is highly intelligent. He graduated high school early with honors, but still says and does the most moronic, though hysterical, things. What driver tries to drink from a beer can hurled at him from an irate fan after a race? Through his helmet no less?

You won't see this type of entertaining behavior from any of the drivers who have already clinched spots in this season's Chase, or the other handful of hopefuls for that matter.

Tony Stewart may get a little rowdy but don't hold your breath, he's a business man now and a mentor for aspiring female drivers apparently.

And what interests me is that one of NASCAR's biggest worries is always whether or not Dale Earnhardt Jr. will make the Chase. NASCAR brass blamed the driver for sagging television ratings when he missed the playoffs in 2007.

Yes, he is the sport's most popular driver, but he's hardly a showstopper these days.

The success of the Chase shouldn't and does not rest on one man's shoulders. However, it will be a shame to see Busch, one of the drivers with the most wins this season next to Mark Martin, miss the show.

"I think we've seen the past few years that there have been guys that have had a lot of wins, won races, not make the Chase. We've also seen Dale Earnhardt Jr. miss it a couple times. He's made it a couple times, but he's missed it a couple times," Busch said this week. "I think you still have a successful season in the Chase, in the sport and the recognition it deserves if I'm not in it, if Mark Martin is not in it, if Dale Earnhardt Jr. is not in it, it's still a success. You have great drivers like Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin who will be fighting for a championship, among others. It will still be a great fight down to the end."

Busch may be right, but it's still my opinion that it won't be nearly as entertaining.

The things the driver says sometimes make you want to kick the cat. You promise to swear off NASCAR altogether and say bad things about his poor mother, but you refuse to turn the channel until you've heard his post race comments.

It's for the same reasons we all love to hate our favorite villains on television and why the show would be sorely lacking if they weren't in the plotline. The same thing applies if Busch fails to make the Chase this weekend at Richmond International Raceway, the rest of the show will be sorely lacking.

Say what you want about Busch, but you can't deny his talent and unbelievable skill inside a stock car. That's why he drives the NASCAR fans insane. He's like Dr. Greg House -- seemingly heartless and always sarcastic but everyone is drawn to him for his brilliant medical mind.

House and Busch say what so many of us wish we could at times, but we don't since we like having friends and family.

There's no question NASCAR needs Busch in this year's Chase. Love him or hate him, he makes things interesting when he is relevant and in the mix and every good program needs an antagonist for fans to root against.

If there is no "Rowdy" Busch, there's just no fun.

I just hope he wins Saturday night's Chevy Rock & Roll 400, because I'm dying to see what the man does or says once he gets another expensive guitar in his hands! Yikes!

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer.