At Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa, Kyle Busch will start from the back of the field Sunday after a crash in practice forced him to switch to a backup car. While entering turn one, Busch’s No. 8 Chevrolet became loose, and his overcorrection sent the vehicle nearly head-on into the outside wall, severely damaging the front end.

Because of this incident, Busch will not be able to complete a qualifying lap and will begin the race 37th out of 37 drivers. Prior to the crash, he had been the second fastest in his practice group, showing competitive speed before the setback.

Busch’s Playoff Hopes and Recent Performance

The two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion is under pressure as he trails the playoff cutline by 81 points. He is aiming for a strong performance at Iowa or during one of the remaining three regular-season races to secure a spot in the postseason, especially as he faces the possibility of missing the playoffs and ending another season without a win.

Busch’s most recent victory came in June 2023 at World Wide Technology Speedway, marking his third win in the first 15 races that year. Since then, although he has shown promise—like his near-win at Circuit of the Americas in March—he has not been able to return to Victory Lane.

Team Owner Expresses Concerns After Recent Challenges

Busch’s ongoing struggles have drawn comments from Richard Childress, the owner associated with Busch. Following the race at Dover, Childress was heard on the radio stating, “We need better cars.” —Richard Childress, Team Owner