Kyle Busch faced a tough day at Pocono Raceway during The Great American Getaway 400, where a costly spin on turn 2 caused significant damage to his No. 8 Chevrolet and contributed to a continued winless streak this season. The 40-year-old driver explained that the car’s performance never fully recovered from the incident, resulting in handling difficulties, especially in traffic.
Busch was battling for 24th place when the spin triggered a multi-car collision involving Christopher Bell, Shane Van Gisbergen, and Ty Dillon. This mishap drew comparisons to Busch’s performance the previous weekend in Mexico City, where he also lost control and experienced an early spin, leading to a second DNF for the season.
Despite the damage, Busch’s team managed to keep him on the lead lap, and he improved his starting position, finishing 20th after starting 26th. Speaking after the race, Busch acknowledged the challenges faced throughout the event.
“Our Chevrolet team worked hard today at Pocono Raceway to overcome obstacles. A speeding penalty on pit road put us behind at the end of Stage 1, then we ended up with heavy damage to our Chevy after spinning towards the end of Stage 2. We just lost the air racing in traffic.”
—Kyle Busch, Driver
“Crew chief Randall Burnett and the rest of the RCR team worked hard to keep us on the lead lap. Our Chevy was never the same after the spin, and handling was really bad in traffic,”
—Kyle Busch, Driver
After Sunday’s race, Busch earned 17 points but remains 63 points outside the playoff cutoff, sitting 20th in the driver standings.
Kyle Busch’s Ongoing Struggles Noted by Close Family and Fellow Racer
Kurt Busch, Kyle’s older brother and a fellow Cup Series champion, recognized Kyle’s current difficulties with Richard Childress Racing. Since a promising debut season with RCR that included multiple race wins and a playoff berth, Kyle Busch has entered a prolonged winless period lasting over two years.
Commenting on this slump, Kurt Busch observed the challenges that drivers can encounter in maintaining peak performance.
“Yeah, I’m seeing the slump from the No. 8 car and the No. 3 car this year, but those things happen. I mean, you’re on top of your game one year, you come back to the track next year and you’re like, ‘Why am I P20 on the board. It happens.”
—Kurt Busch, NASCAR Driver
The 2024 season marked Kyle Busch’s first absence from the playoffs since 2012, breaking a streak of 11 consecutive postseason appearances. This year also ended his run of winning at least one race per season for 19 years.
Busch’s top finish in 2024 came at The Circuit of The Americas, where he placed in the top five. Although he has led 62 laps this season, converting race leadership into wins has been a significant struggle, resulting in an average finish of 18th place.
Implications of Continued Challenges for Kyle Busch and RCR
Kyle Busch’s ongoing difficulties at Richard Childress Racing illustrate the pressures and unpredictability faced by even the most accomplished drivers. The damage sustained at Pocono and the persistent handling issues highlight the challenges of competing at a high level with a team still seeking consistent results. With the playoff cutoff looming, Busch and his crew chief Randall Burnett face the critical task of regaining competitiveness to reverse the current trend.
Busch’s reflections, alongside Kurt Busch’s candid remarks, underscore the frustration and determination involved in navigating a tough season. How this phase will shape Busch’s future performances and the broader RCR campaign remains a key point of interest as NASCAR progresses through 2024.