Kyle Busch Admits to Fault Amid Declining NASCAR Career

74 races. That’s how long it has been since Kyle Busch entered Victory Lane in the NASCAR Cup Series. When ‘Rowdy’ left Joe Gibbs Racing back in 2022, fans expected the two-time champ to hit the ground running at Richard Childress’ team. However, aside from his three wins during his first season with the team, results have been hard to come by for the No. 8 Chevy driver in what can only be described as a significant decline in the blink of an eye.

Amidst speculation about a potential move to another team, Busch shocked fans by extending his contract with Richard Childress Racing until 2026. Has he found out the underlying reason behind his long winless streak that has been going on since June 2023? It certainly seems like it.

Kyle Busch knows where he’s falling short

Kyle Busch probably has the worst luck in the Cup Series. For all his experience and talent, the 40-year-old seems to have forgotten how to win, going by his results in the last few years. It’s almost like Murphy’s law is working overtime against the racer, forcing him to settle for all possible outcomes except a first-place finish. He has come close on several occasions, though, finishing runner-up at Daytona and Darlington last year while making a desperate push to squeeze into a playoff spot.

When asked what might be the reason behind his longstanding winless streak, Kyle Busch didn’t mince his words. Sharing his thoughts in the pre-race press conference, he candidly accepted his fault by saying, “I would love to be up at the shop a little bit more. I will say and be honest that I’m not there as much as I’d like to be. So you know, maybe there’s a step in that timeframe that I can work into my calendar.” The sentiment was echoed by Richard Childress as well, who said, “These small details on the cars mean so much, and that’s where we got to work more and more and concentrate on the small details.”

Results this year have left much to be desired. When the 2025 season began, many felt that ‘Rowdy’ may have finally found a breakthrough after he secured three top-10 results in the opening four races. A fifth-place result at the Circuit of the Americas was particularly impressive as he looked dominant all weekend. However, his performance has dropped off since then as he has finished 20th or higher in each of his last three fixtures.

Working alongside the No. 8 crew might prove to be the difference maker if Kyle Busch wants to salvage his season. The racer admitted their weakness by saying, “I feel there’s times in the race where we do have, you know, top speed, but it’s not the whole race. So, you know, we’ve got to work on beginning to end and being able to put everything together.” While knowing where the team is falling short is one step of the puzzle, working on the problem behind the scenes is the only way the problem will be rectified.

Busch reveals the secret to winning the Coca-Cola 600

Kyle Busch has been there and done that. Having raced full-time at the highest level since 2005, ‘Rowdy’ knows a thing or two about pulling off clutch results, especially in crown-jewel events. Back in 2018, the Nevada native won the Coca-Cola 600, making him the first driver in the modern era to win at all active tracks (at that time) in which the series competed. Back then, he led 377 out of 400 laps and swept all three stages, finishing more than three seconds ahead of Martin Truex Jr.

When asked if qualifying matters the most at the Coca-Cola 600, Busch said, “No, it doesn’t. It’s a longer race, so you have more time from sunlight to nighttime, and typically you don’t really worry about how your car is until you get to the nighttime because that’s when the money’s paid, so you want to be fast at that time of the day. There are so many little details that you can find (on the car). If you find 100 small, tiny details, then that’s all going to add up.”

Reiterating the importance of his No. 8 crew, Kyle Busch went on to say, “The guys at the shop have been doing a good job working on all of that, whether it’s car build or little things in the setups.” Ultimately, the devil lies in the details, just as ‘Rowdy’ and Richard Childress reiterated earlier. The 40-year-old winning a race at the highest level is long overdue, and what better way to break that winless streak than to do it at the Coca-Cola 600?

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