Busch had an "up and down" year in 2003, finishing eleventh in the season's points standings, earning four wins (including a season sweep at Bristol, making him the first driver to do that since Rusty Wallace accomplished the feat in 2000), nine Top 5s, and 14 Top 10 finishes but a late-season slump put him in this finishing spot in the point standings, although he collected over again that year.