In his first season with Richard Childress Racing, Kyle Busch secured three race wins, sparking fan optimism for a title-contending performance in 2024. However, the season became a low point in his storied NASCAR career. Busch only managed a couple of second-place finishes and concluded the season ranked 20th in the points standings. This marked his worst overall performance, equaling his debut season in 2005. Unlike 2005, though, 2024 saw Busch fail to win a single race, ending his 19-year streak of at least one victory per season. This disappointing outcome has raised questions about his ability to return to winning form. Surprisingly, MRN’s seasoned journalist Doug Rice made a bold claim about Busch’s future.
Rice’s prediction, as shared by Danielle Trotta on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, suggested that Busch might never win another race. Trotta recounted, “Doug was throwing out a prediction… that he doesn’t think Kyle Busch will ever win again. I was like, wow, I am not ready to say that… A lot of people are wondering if Kyle Busch can ever be the Kyle Busch of old. I certainly hope.” While Trotta disagreed with Rice’s view, even NASCAR veteran Larry McReynolds acknowledged Busch might not return to his prime but refrained from ruling out future wins entirely.
One key challenge for Busch has been RCR’s inability to consistently provide competitive race speeds. When the team did find speed, bad luck or overly aggressive strategies often sabotaged their efforts. Busch himself admitted to these issues in an interview with Racer.com, citing several missed opportunities throughout the season.
Busch came close to victory three times in 2024, but each chance slipped away. At Kansas, he attempted an aggressive move against Chase Briscoe, who was a lap down, only to crash into the wall with 35 laps remaining. At Darlington, he lacked the pace to overcome Briscoe again, and a late caution could have changed the outcome. Finally, at Daytona, Busch fell short due to a lack of support during a late-race surge, allowing Harrison Burton to claim the win.
Reflecting on these setbacks, Busch remarked, “We probably had a handful of opportunities that slipped out from under us. So [I] can’t say we never had an opportunity to, but obviously didn’t get it done.” Despite these struggles, Busch’s performance demonstrated he still has the potential to compete for wins. While the 2024 season was challenging, fans remain hopeful that he and the #8 team can mount a comeback in 2025.
