Dale Earnhardt finally ended years of frustration when he won the 1998 Daytona 500, famously tossing a stuffed monkey off his back in celebration. For two decades, he had dominated Daytona in other races but always fell short in the sport’s biggest event. His long-awaited victory was an emotional moment, not just for him but for Richard Childress Racing and the entire NASCAR community. Earnhardt’s crew chief, Richard Childress, later reflected on the win, stating that while Earnhardt never doubted his ability to win, something always seemed to stand in his way—until that fateful day.
Now, another RCR driver, Kyle Busch, finds himself in a similar situation. As he enters his 20th attempt at the Daytona 500 without a win, the parallels to Earnhardt are hard to ignore. Busch, aware of the historic comparison, acknowledged the significance of this year’s race, stating, “Another guy at RCR once upon a time had 20 years of trying and was able to capitalize on that. Hopefully, this year is our year.”
Busch has come close multiple times but has yet to seal the deal. In 2024, he finished P8. In 2007, he was caught in a last-lap crash, and in 2008, he got stuck in traffic near the finish. The following year, he dominated by leading 88 laps, only to crash out before the rain-shortened race was called. His best finishes include third place in 2016 and a runner-up finish in 2019. Despite these near-misses, he remains optimistic that 2025 could be his breakthrough year.
Adding to the ongoing NASCAR discussions is the new Open Exemption Provisional (OEP) rule. This policy allows one driver a guaranteed spot in the Daytona 500, even if they fail to qualify on speed. For 2025, the exemption went to Helio Castroneves, a Brazilian driver, which sparked debate. Some fans and drivers, including Busch, felt it was unfair that NASCAR chose an outsider over legends like Jimmie Johnson or Martin Truex Jr. Busch voiced his disapproval, explaining that while he understood the effort to attract a wider audience, it shouldn’t come at the expense of long-time NASCAR veterans who have contributed to the sport’s legacy.
With history repeating itself in more ways than one, all eyes are now on Busch. Can he follow in Earnhardt’s footsteps and finally capture his elusive Daytona 500 win?
