Kyle Busch, the Richard Childress Racing driver of the No. 8 Chevrolet, is facing renewed scrutiny as he approaches the final phase of the NASCAR regular season before the playoffs begin. The two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, currently experiencing one of his longest winless stretches, is focused on overcoming a points deficit to secure a spot in the 2025 playoffs.
At 40 years old, Busch’s most recent victory came early in the 2023 season, when he recorded three wins during the first 15 races. Since then, the 63-time Cup winner has yet to return to victory lane. Missing last year’s playoff rounds, Busch now needs to close the points gap with just six races left before the opening playoff event at Darlington Raceway.
When asked if a comeback was feasible, Busch expressed cautious optimism about his chances, emphasizing the importance of smart racing and gathering stage points.
“I think you can, if you’re smart, play it the right way, and keep yourself up front to get those stage points. In these races, yes you can do it. Now we go back to the ovals where it’s a little more evenly separated between the competition. There is a slight chance that somebody outside of the playoffs will win, and you have to start all over again,”
he remarked.
Details of the Points Busch Must Secure to Stay in Contention
Busch outlined the precise task required to overcome his current deficit and earn a playoff berth. With six races remaining before the regular season finale at the Coke Zero Sugar 400 in Daytona, he calculated the points he needs per race to remain competitive.
Addressing the challenge, he said,
“The task at hand right now is to knock off eight points per race. If you look at it, divide 40 points into six races. That’s going to be somewhere around the seven-to-eight-point range per race that you need to have in order to put yourself in the playoffs on points.”
This scoring target highlights the urgency of consistently strong finishes, as Busch must accumulate roughly 7 to 8 points each race to keep playoff hopes alive heading into the final rounds of the regular season.
Assessing Busch’s Progress on Road Courses Compared to Shane van Gisbergen
Following two consecutive road course events in Chicago and Sonoma, where Shane van Gisbergen dominated with back-to-back wins, Kyle Busch showed progress with solid finishes—a top-five and a top-10—though he acknowledges he still has a long way to go in mastering this style of racing.
Busch candidly reflected on his ability to match the Trackhouse driver’s road racing skills, admitting that it could take until his retirement to reach even a fraction of van Gisbergen’s expertise. Speaking at Sonoma Raceway, Busch stated,
“I mean just the longevity of it all but we’ve also had others that have been here that have grown up just doing that as well so I don’t know. He’s just really, really good. He has the heel-toe method I know.”
He added humorously,
“So, for me to try to figure that out it would be until my retirement before I’m even 10% as good as he is at it, so that’s out the window.”
What’s Next for Busch and the Remaining NASCAR Season
As the NASCAR schedule returns to its traditional oval tracks, Busch’s focus will sharpen on executing his plan to earn enough points to enter the playoffs. The upcoming race at Dover Motor Speedway on July 20 will present another opportunity for Busch and his team to gain ground.
By navigating a demanding final stretch marked by oval circuits, Kyle Busch will need to maintain calculated consistency and capitalize on every point available to overcome his current standing and continue his pursuit of another championship run.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Where will Kyle Busch go in 2026?
A. Kyle Busch will keep driving the No. 8 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing until the end of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. He and RCR shared this news on Saturday at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Q. Will Kyle Busch retire?
A. Kyle Busch has signed a contract extension with Richard Childress Racing, keeping him with the team until 2026. He mentioned that retiring isn’t in his plans yet.