Kyle Busch is having a rough start to the 2024 season. Despite being a 64-time Cup Series winner and boasting a career record of five seasons with five or more wins, he remains winless this year. This situation has caught many off guard, especially given Busch’s impressive streak of 20 consecutive seasons with at least one victory and his unbroken playoff appearances since 2012. However, both of these remarkable runs are under threat, primarily due to the actions of Chase Briscoe.
Throughout the season, Busch had opportunities to secure playoff spots, including a second-place finish at Daytona and another strong showing in the final regular-season race, where he again placed second after a fierce battle with Briscoe. Each time, Briscoe became an obstacle, frustrating Busch as he sought to extend his winning streak. The current state of racing tactics has left Busch disappointed.
The Kansas race was anticipated to be a turning point. Starting in third position, Busch had a solid start and eventually gained the lead from Ross Chastain during the final stage, deftly navigating through traffic. However, when he approached Briscoe, who was running in 26th, things took a turn. Briscoe, needing to stay on the lead lap to keep his playoff hopes alive, refused to concede. Busch attempted to pass him on the outside, but contact was made, causing Busch to hit the wall and ultimately finish the race in 19th place.
Post-race, Busch expressed his frustration, stating, “I’m sure he was racing to stay on the lead lap and racing whoever was in front of him. Give you a lane, and let the leaders race, and I wasn’t getting that. So I tried to force my hand to get that and get to his outside. For some reason, whatever happened gave all the air in all the wrong places and spun out.”
For Briscoe, it was equally vital to perform well as he entered the race seven points below the playoff cutline. Defending his actions, Briscoe claimed he had provided enough space for Busch, stating, “When he got to me, I was making sure it was tight. I wasn’t just gonna pull over and give it to him. We are still racing for staying on the lead lap. I felt like I left him a car width and a couple of inches. These cars are so sensitive, especially on this track. If you are off to someone’s right rear, you just get so loose. It looked like that’s what happened.” Ultimately, Briscoe finished in 24th, widening his deficit in the playoff standings.
The tension between the two drivers highlights the pressures of the playoff race, where stakes are incredibly high. While Busch aimed for a coveted victory, Briscoe fought to secure a crucial finish for his team. The question remains whether Briscoe should have given Busch more room to pass. Busch believes that the current culture in racing has become too self-centered, lamenting, “It doesn’t matter what I expect. I don’t think anybody gives anybody anything anymore. It’s all take, take, take.”
Busch has voiced his concerns about a growing lack of respect in the NASCAR garage multiple times. A notable instance occurred during the Richmond race when Austin Dillon wrecked both Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin to clinch a victory. Busch argues that while desperation is understandable, clean racing should still be the norm. In a previous race at Daytona, he demonstrated restraint when Harrison Burton led on the final lap, choosing not to wreck him despite having the opportunity. After that race, he remarked, “Besides just flat-out wrecking him, there was nothing else I could do.”
Last year, he expressed similar sentiments when Denny Hamlin wrecked Ross Chastain at Phoenix, stating, “We have completely lost any sense of respect in the garage between the drivers.” Busch lamented that drivers are now more focused on personal gain rather than adhering to an unwritten code of conduct that once existed in the sport. He remarked, “Nobody gives two (expletive) about anybody else. It’s just a problem where everybody takes advantage of everybody as much as they can. We’re all selfish, granted. But there was an etiquette that once did live here.”
Although some argue that intentional wrecks are part of NASCAR’s heritage, Busch firmly disagrees. Over his two-decade career, he has witnessed the evolution of the sport and has named racing legends like Mark Martin, Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, and Dale Jarrett, all of whom valued respect on the track. According to him, that same code of behavior seems to have faded away.
As NASCAR continues to evolve, questions arise regarding the balance between aggression and respect on the track. Fans and drivers alike are left to ponder the implications of this changing dynamic. How do you perceive the current state of racing in terms of aggression and sportsmanship? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Kyle Busch Attacks Chase Briscoe with 7 Bold Statements Over His Legacy Crisis
