Kyle Busch’s race at the 2024 Hollywood Casino 400 can only be described as heartbreaking. Once again, Rowdy came agonizingly close to breaking his 50-race winless streak, only to be denied by Chase Briscoe. Earlier in the season, these two drivers had a dramatic showdown at Darlington Raceway, where Briscoe made a last-lap pass to snatch a playoff spot from Busch, a moment that still stings.
This season has been nothing short of frustrating for Busch, a two-time Cup Series champion. Competing mostly for pride, he has yet to secure a victory, a streak that could end his remarkable record of winning at least one race in each of the last 19 seasons. NASCAR insiders suggest that Busch might be seeking revenge as the season draws to a close, especially after the events at Kansas Speedway.
Busch was in an excellent position to win at Kansas, leading the race with 32 laps remaining. But fate had other plans. In a tense battle with Ross Chastain, who would go on to win, Busch’s No. 8 Chevy got loose in Turn 2 as he attempted to lap Chase Briscoe. This caused his car to hit the wall and spin, undoing all his hard work. What looked like a promising shot at victory ended with a disappointing 19th-place finish.
What makes this even more painful for Busch is the history between him and Briscoe. It was Briscoe who blocked Busch from making the playoffs for the first time in 12 years. The tension between the two drivers is palpable, with some even suggesting that Briscoe should be cautious about making more enemies. Bubba Wallace’s spotter, Freddie Kraft, commented on the Door Bumper Clear podcast, “If you’re in Chase’s position, especially now being out… you don’t want to make enemies at this point, and he did.”
To be fair to Briscoe, there was little he could do in that particular situation. Fighting to stay in contention for a playoff spot, Briscoe was trying to avoid going a lap down. Letting Busch pass too easily could have cost him valuable track positions, something he couldn’t afford with a spot in the Round of 8 on the line. Busch, meanwhile, will have to shoulder some of the blame for the mishap.
With only six races left, the pressure is mounting for both Busch and Briscoe to turn their seasons around. Busch has just six more chances to secure a win and avoid finishing the season winless, while Briscoe is battling to keep his playoff hopes alive. Currently sitting 25 points below the elimination cutline, Briscoe’s 24th-place finish at Kansas was a significant blow to his championship aspirations. However, he will have a shot at redemption at Talladega Superspeedway and the Charlotte Oval, two critical races that could determine his fate.
As the NASCAR Cup Series heads to Talladega for the second race in the Round of 12, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Briscoe knows that a strong performance could be the key to keeping his championship hopes alive. Adding to the drama, Stewart-Haas Racing, which is set to cease operations at the end of 2024, will be honoring team co-owner Tony Stewart at Talladega with a special livery on Briscoe’s No. 14 Ford Mustang. The car will feature a yellow and black paint scheme, a nod to the iconic Rush Truck Center design that Stewart used during his racing career.
The team announced the tribute on their official X account, sharing an image of the car with the caption, “What a rush it’s been. As a long-standing partner of SHR, @rushtruckcenter will look familiar with @ChaseBriscoe_14 in an iconic @TonyStewart throwback at Talladega.” Stewart himself responded to the post with, “This is bad—,” showing his excitement about the tribute.
Rush Truck Center has been a key partner for Stewart-Haas Racing since 2010, when Tony Stewart drove the No. 14 Chevy. Now, as Briscoe carries the team’s hopes in the playoffs, the pressure is on for him to deliver a strong performance at Talladega. He finished fourth at the track last year, and he’ll be looking to replicate that result as he fights to stay in the championship hunt.
With his future in NASCAR secured—Briscoe has already signed with Joe Gibbs Racing for the 2025 season—he’ll be looking to give Stewart-Haas Racing a fitting send-off by competing for the title at Phoenix Raceway. But before that, he has to navigate the high-stakes races ahead, with everything on the line for both him and the team.
Bubba Wallace’s insider cautions Tony Stewart, giving strong reasons why he should beware of ‘enemy’ Kyle Busch in two Strong words.
