For two decades, Kyle Busch has been a consistent winner in the NASCAR Cup Series, always securing at least one victory each season. But 2024 has been a particularly challenging year for the two-time Cup Series champion. For the first time since 2012, Busch failed to qualify for the playoffs, despite coming close to victory several times. His disappointment was evident after finishing second in back-to-back races at Daytona and Darlington toward the end of the regular season. The Kansas race offered another opportunity for Busch to break his winless streak, but once again, luck wasn’t on his side. After the race, a speechless Busch shared his thoughts, clearly frustrated by his recent near misses.
**Kyle Busch’s Battle to Keep His Win Streak Alive**
Busch qualified in third for the Kansas race, determined to finally claim a victory. He had a strong run, leading much of the race after passing Ross Chastain on lap 64. But things took a turn when he tried to pass Chase Briscoe, who was fighting to stay on the lead lap. In a tense moment, Briscoe, driving Tony Stewart’s #14 car, squeezed Busch into the outside wall, causing the #8 car to spin. Busch’s chances of winning evaporated as he fell back to finish 19th. When asked about his feelings after yet another missed victory, Busch paused before saying, “I didn’t plan to. It just happened. I’m numb. I don’t know what to do.”
It’s hard not to sympathize with Busch. He’s come so close to winning multiple times this season, only to fall short each time. Despite his frustration, Busch kept his composure and didn’t criticize Briscoe. Explaining what happened, he said, “I ran hard to maintain speed and keep ahead of the #1 car. The #14 moved down the track for clean air, and I went outside to fill the gap. Then, I lost grip coming out of the corner. There’s a term for it, but I can’t say it here.”
Busch and his team had their sights set on what would have been his 64th Cup Series win. Reflecting on the race, he added, “I was giving it everything I had. I feel bad for my team and everyone at RCR (Richard Childress Racing). They deserved the win today. We battled the #1 car for 15 laps, finally got past him, but then caught a lap car, and the gap kept closing. I think I just got in too much of a hurry.”
**Chase Briscoe’s Perspective on the Incident**
Chase Briscoe entered the race needing to make up ground in the playoff standings. He was already seven points behind the cutoff line, and after finishing 24th, he’s now 25 points below the line. Briscoe did everything he could to stay on the lead lap, which ultimately denied Busch a shot at victory.
In a post-race interview, Briscoe explained his side of the story: “When Busch got to me, I wasn’t just going to pull over and let him by. We’re still racing to stay on the lead lap. I felt like I left him a car width and a few inches, but these cars are so sensitive, especially on this track. If someone’s too close to your right rear, it makes the car really loose. That’s what I think happened. Busch throttled up to try and pin me down, but I couldn’t get out of the way, and we made contact.”
Briscoe, like many NASCAR fans, expressed his respect for Busch. “It’s just one of those racing situations. In this car, you get loose when someone’s on the outside. I hate it for him because I’m a Kyle Busch fan too. I wanted to see him win and keep his streak going. It’s unfortunate that we’re part of this conversation, and I’m disappointed our day didn’t go better either.”
**Can Busch End the Season with a Win?**
Despite the setbacks, Busch still has six races left in the season to try and extend his winning streak. One of those races is at the Charlotte ROVAL, a track where Busch has excelled in recent years. He’s finished in the top four in his last three races at the track, including a third-place finish last year. Since 2021, his average finish at Charlotte has been an impressive 3.3, making him a strong contender to spoil the eliminator race of Round 2.
With the season winding down, many fans are wondering if Busch can finally secure a win and keep his streak alive. What do you think? Will Kyle Busch find victory before the season ends? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
“Kyle Busch Opens Up About Feeling ‘Numb’ Over Winless Streak, Refuses to Blame Tony Stewart’s Star Power in Honest Interview”
