SPARTA, Ky. (AP) -- After struggling in his last four starts, Kyle Busch has found the perfect tonic in Bourbon country.

Busch is the defending champion at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this weekend at Kentucky Speedway. Getting to a track where he's had some success - he doubled up with a win in the Nationwide event last year as well - comes at just the right time.

The 27-year-old from Las Vegas has had a season of highs and lows. He won at Richmond and then finished second at Talladega, fourth at Darlington and third at Charlotte in consecutive starts.

Since then, he's had two blown engines and has finished 29th, 30th, 32nd and 17th. He finds himself 12th in the Cup standings and a distant 137 points behind series leader Matt Kenseth.