Kansas Speedway, known for its 17-20 degrees of banking, offers a variety of racing lines in its turns. This layout allows for multiple grooves and opportunities for drivers to maneuver, but that alone doesn’t seem to explain Kyle Busch’s recent struggles. Now in his 19th season in NASCAR’s top series, the two-time Cup Series champion has faced significant challenges this year. Despite showing moments of promise, he has not yet regained his form after missing the playoffs. Kansas Speedway was almost the turning point for him, as he came close to securing a win, but in the end, luck was not on his side. While many playoff contenders struggled, Busch, competing as an outsider, led laps toward the race’s conclusion. However, another bout of misfortune – or possibly diminishing skill, as a NASCAR insider suggested – put an end to his chances.
After the race, Kyle Busch expressed his frustration, stating, “I’m numb. I don’t know what to do.” Busch started in a strong position, qualifying third, and although he briefly lost pace, he worked his way back into the top ten during the second stage. By lap 205, he was battling Ross Chastain for the lead, and on lap 226, it seemed that Busch, driving the No. 8 Chevy for Richard Childress Racing, was on his way to victory. But disaster struck on lap 235 when Busch was squeezed into the wall, causing him to spin down the backstretch and ruining his chance at a win.
This incident marked yet another missed opportunity to extend his 19-year victory streak, a record that has become increasingly elusive. NASCAR journalist Jordan Bianchi discussed Busch’s season on a recent episode of *The Teardown*, noting, “He’s really had a year where he hasn’t been in contention for many wins. Obviously, Darlington and Atlanta come to mind as exceptions.” Busch’s strong performance at Kansas raised hopes that he might finally be back in winning form. “But this really felt like, okay, here it is. Here’s the opportunity. Whether he could have held off Chastain or not, we don’t know. But certainly, a missed opportunity.”
Bianchi went on to suggest that Busch may have lost his winning edge. While Carson Hocevar blamed Chase Briscoe for Busch’s crash, others pointed to the possibility that Busch’s struggles with the Next-Gen car were more to blame. Bianchi explained, “It speaks to, I think, a bigger issue for Kyle Busch since this new car… I don’t think his skill set is adapting well to this. It’s been a struggle for him sometimes to get his hands around it. And sometimes when he doesn’t have great cars, he’s pushed too much. Other times when he’s had good cars, maybe tried to do a little too much. He’s got himself in trouble. And today, it just looked like he got crossed up a little bit.”
While experts continue to analyze Busch’s struggles, his competitors have shown support for him. Even though Chase Briscoe played a role in Busch’s downfall at Kansas, he expressed sympathy for the veteran driver. “He’s been so close all year long, and I’m a Kyle Busch fan. So I wanted to see him keep the streak alive,” Briscoe said. Busch’s legacy in NASCAR is undeniable, with 231 wins across all three NASCAR national series – a feat that rivals even Richard Petty’s 200 career Cup victories. His 19-year streak of victories remains unmatched, and fans, along with his peers, are eager to see him extend it to 20 years.
Kansas winner Ross Chastain, who had a fierce battle with Busch in the closing laps, also showed empathy for Busch’s situation. He explained that Busch’s wreck wasn’t necessarily a result of poor driving but rather an unfortunate set of circumstances. “(Busch) fought the entire turns one and two. That lap he wrecked, he fought the entire turn to get outside of (Briscoe). That’s a spot that I didn’t believe was a vulnerable spot when this car first started… Yeah, when (Busch) spun, he was in the most vulnerable spot he could be to get loose, and he slapped the wall and spun out unforced.”
Despite his continued struggles, even Busch’s competitors are rooting for him to return to form. While this season has been tough, Busch’s talent and experience make it hard to count him out for long. Fans and fellow drivers alike hope that it’s only a matter of time before he secures that elusive win and continues his incredible streak. All eyes will be on Busch in the coming weeks to see if he can finally break through and reclaim his place at the top.
Kyle Bush crash shocks fans!
