The 2023 season has been a tumultuous one for Kyle Busch. After leaving his longtime team Joe Gibbs Racing, Busch landed at Richard Childress Racing, to the surprise of many.
In his first season with RCR Busch has three wins and made it into the Playoffs. Since the Playoffs began, however, the team has struggled. Coming into Sunday’s race on Charlotte’s ROVAL Busch was in danger of elimination with only a win giving him any chance of moving on in the Playoffs. That was the plan anyway.
“Yeah, yeah, that’s what we set out to do.” Busch said. “That’s what we felt like our road course program had in it anyways was for sure a top 3, definitely a win.”
Busch was second to eventual race winner AJ Allmendinger on the final restart but spun his tires and fell to third as William Byron passed him. In the end Busch had nothing for the two frontrunners knowing only a win would advance him. His hopes for a third Cup series title will have to wait until next season.
“The Lenovo Camaro was pretty fast,” he said. “Just lacked a little bit on the long run, just didn’t quite have the feel of the tire that I was really looking for to be able to turn into the corners and to be able to drive out of the corners and keep pace with the front two there at the end.”
However, Busch was quick to put the blame in himself.
“Overall, this ride is on me anyways,” he said. “The first two weeks of this round was obviously not very good, and we didn’t score any points. That’s where it’s at. That’s where it lies. Texas, Talladega, just not being able to execute and do a good job when points were on the line.
“It sucks to be out this early, but let us do Texas over again, and I feel like we’re right there. We’re ready.”
Busch said despite being eliminated in the Playoffs he and his RCR team are still ready to win some of the four races eft in the season.
“Well, that’s what we want to do, go out on a high and win a few more races,” he said. “That would definitely be good. You know, look forward to Vegas. Vegas is my home track so I want to go out there and run good.
“Then we’ve got Homestead, which has always been a pretty good track for me, and of course Phoenix, as well. I would love to be the spoiler on that Sunday. That would be fun. We’ve got our work cut out for us, but we’ll keep building, and first year at RCR means a lot to me for Richard having me and for the Chevy guys having me, everybody, to get this far.
“Again, rides on me to get to the next round, so I’ve just got to do a better job.”
Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.
- Biffle, Dorton, Sprague join NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2025 nominees for the first time - April 24, 2024
- NASCAR will experiment with different tire compounds for the first time at All-Star Race - April 23, 2024
- Legacy Motor Club reserve driver Corey Heim to sub for Erik Jones at Dover - April 23, 2024