During the NASCAR Cup Series practice session at Iowa Speedway this afternoon, Kyle Busch experienced a significant crash that disrupted his team‘s preparations ahead of the race. Despite showing early speed by ranking third on the timing sheet, Busch struggled with persistent handling issues, which culminated in a crash that left his team needing to switch to a backup car.
Busch lost control of his car after adjustments intended to stabilize the rear failed. He spun out in turn one and struck the outside wall, causing damage that forced immediate changes for the upcoming race. The incident added pressure on Busch and his team, already searching for better performance in the ongoing season.
Handling Challenges Lead to Critical Error on Track
The Richard Childress Racing (RCR) team has been grappling with speed and setup problems throughout 2025. Team owner Richard Childress has been vocal about the need to find performance improvements, highlighting the struggles during recent events. Busch’s crash underscored these ongoing difficulties.
Kyle Busch explained the situation to TNT Sports after the incident, emphasizing the complexity of managing the car’s balance.
“We came in to make changes to get the rear of the car more secure,”
he said.
“Literally anywhere I would push just a little bit harder, I would feel rear chatter. I felt really good about the changes that we made there.”
However, when Busch exited turn four at a high speed, he misjudged the handling and entered turn one with too much confidence, causing the rear to lose grip.
“Chattered the right rear, over-corrected and smacked the wall. Not real sure how to find more trust or when you feel something good in one corner, it’s not there the next,”
Busch added. He also expressed sympathy for his team, saying,
“It’s tough for the guys. I hate it for the guys.”
Team Prepares Backup Car for Race Day
Following the practice crash, the No. 8 team had to unload a backup car to continue competing. Busch will make his first laps in this replacement vehicle during the race itself, adding further uncertainty to his performance prospects at Iowa Speedway. The crash and the subsequent adjustments highlight the challenges the team faces as they try to improve under mounting pressure.