In 2013, before the AAA 400, Kyle Busch was asked about his eight-year playoff win drought. Shrugging off the question, he made it clear that he valued championships over individual playoff victories. His mindset has remained unchanged over the years—making the playoffs is just a step toward the ultimate goal of winning it all. NASCAR legend Kyle Petty recently reinforced this point, stating that Busch isn’t interested in merely qualifying for the playoffs; he wants to be a true contender for the title.
Petty emphasized that Busch belongs to an elite group of drivers who see the playoffs as more than just an achievement. He explained that for Busch, winning a race to secure a playoff spot means little if he doesn’t have a real shot at the championship. Busch’s record supports this, with 11 playoff appearances and two Cup Series championships in 2015 and 2019, along with a runner-up finish in 2017.
However, the 2025 season has been rough for Busch. Bad luck has kept him from reaching Victory Lane despite strong performances. At Daytona, a crash ended his race while he was running in the top five. At Atlanta, an incident involving Carson Hocevar cost him several positions, leaving him with an eighth-place finish. Then at Circuit of the Americas, he dominated by leading 42 laps, but a late caution wiped out his lead, and on worn tires, he slipped to fifth place by the finish.
Busch’s winless streak has now stretched to 60 races, a frustrating drought for someone so focused on championships. His next chance to end it comes at the Shriners Children’s 500 at Phoenix Raceway, a track where he has won three times—his last victory there coming in 2019. While his recent results at Phoenix haven’t been encouraging, he remains determined to break through. Since joining Richard Childress Racing in 2023, he has only one top-10 finish at the track, raising concerns about whether his car is suited for success there.
Still, Busch’s experience and past dominance at Phoenix could work in his favor. The biggest question is whether he can avoid the setbacks that have kept him from winning so far this season. With his relentless drive, Phoenix could be the place where he finally turns his season around.
