The hopes of Kyle Busch making it into the playoffs are still alive, though it’s not a situation we’re used to seeing with the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion. However, Kyle Busch has yet to break his 45-race winless streak. Despite this, there were some positives for the Richard Childress Racing team in the Michigan race, where Busch secured a P4 finish.
This marked his third Top 5 finish of the season. While not particularly impressive, it does signal a potential comeback. With only two races left before the playoffs, Busch, also known as “Rowdy,” is in a now-or-never situation, and he’s eager to show what he can do. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is fully aware of Busch’s capabilities and has issued a warning to the other teams about the threat Busch poses in these final two races.
Kyle Busch finds himself in a desperate, do-or-die scenario. In the Michigan race, won by Tyler Reddick, we caught glimpses of the old Rowdy that fans know and love. While his qualifying performance was underwhelming, starting from P13, Busch managed to climb to P6 within the 51 laps that occurred before the race was delayed by rain.
When the race resumed, he quickly took the lead, though he was soon overtaken by Martin Truex Jr. Despite multiple cautions and a multi-car crash, Busch managed to win Stage 2, his first stage win since Sonoma Raceway last year.
A well-timed pit stop after a crash briefly put Busch in the lead again, but tire issues prevented him from holding onto it. Despite these setbacks, Busch’s team persevered and managed to finish P4, which is a good sign for a team still fighting to secure a playoff spot.
While they didn’t win, the result was positive for a team that’s desperate for a victory. Now, Busch will look to build on this momentum, and Dale Jr. has warned the competition to expect more “Rowdiness” from the #8 car.
In the August 20 episode of Dale Jr. Download, Dale Earnhardt Jr. discussed the challenges drivers like Ross Chastain, Bubba Wallace, and Kyle Busch face as they head into the final races before the playoffs. He emphasized that Busch’s team, sitting 93 points below the cutoff line, isn’t likely to play it safe by racing for stage points. Instead, they’re likely to focus on taking care of their car in the early stages of the race and then going all out in Stage 3. According to Junior, Kyle Busch will do whatever it takes to secure a win.
Throughout his career, Busch has always made it to the playoffs, and he certainly doesn’t want the 2024 season to be the exception. While desperation might be setting in, fans are hopeful that Busch won’t make the same mistakes as his teammate, Austin Dillon. But what are Busch’s chances in the next two races?
So far this season, Busch’s journey has been a challenging one. He currently sits 17th in the NASCAR Cup Series standings with 513 points. He’s competed in 24 races, had five DNFs, and earned three top-5 finishes. Busch has won two stages this season and led for a total of 160 laps. His average finish is 19th, and he usually starts races in 17.5th position. Despite these struggles, the #8 team is determined to leave those difficulties behind and focus on what’s ahead, and Busch remains hopeful.
In a post-race interview in Michigan, Busch said, “So, just a good day overall for the Lucas Oil Chevrolet. And, you know, hope that next week, with Cheddar’s and Zone and the remaining races coming up, we can put ourselves in a position to win one.”
The next race will be at Daytona, where Busch finished P7 last year. He’ll be looking to capitalize on that and secure a win. The following race at Darlington also offers promise, as Busch also finished P7 there last year, giving him a solid chance in these final two races.
A win is Busch’s only real chance to make the playoffs, as he is currently 93 points below the cutoff line, making it nearly impossible to qualify on points alone. Fans are hoping to see Busch pull off something special at Daytona and then continue his push for a third title in the playoffs. Do you think Kyle Busch can secure his spot in the playoffs? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
