Kyle Busch arrives at Daytona with an 82-race winless drought, the longest of his Cup Series career, and sits 19th in the playoff standings as the regular season nears its end. With 148 points shy of the playoff cutline, the 2.5-mile superspeedway race is Busch’s last chance to secure his postseason spot by winning.
This season has been difficult for Busch, who performed better last weekend at Richmond, finishing 16th, a track where he holds a strong record. However, Daytona presents a tougher challenge given his recent struggles there, though backed by Richard Childress Racing, Busch hopes to turn things around and save his season in this final regular-season event.
Remaining Calm Amid High Stakes
Despite the urgency, Busch maintains a composed outlook. When asked if the threat of elimination adds pressure, he stated,
“I don’t think so, no. We just know time is running out, but I don’t think the pressure is any greater. It’s just a matter of being able to get it done and right now is the best time, you know, so you can go try to prepare for a championship.”
—Kyle Busch, NASCAR driver
Regarding whether Daytona’s role as the season finale intensifies stress, Busch commented,
“No, I’m not stressed out over it. I think that we go to each and every single weekend with the mindset to try to go out there and win, and we haven’t put ourselves in that position to be able to score a victory. So, we need to. But I wouldn’t say that this weekend puts any added pressure on that.”
—Kyle Busch, NASCAR driver
Busch’s Mixed Results and Trouble at Daytona
Kyle Busch has started 40 Cup races at Daytona, achieving one win, nine top-five finishes, and 13 top-10 results, averaging an 18.5 finish on the oval. While he finished second in last year’s summer race and seventh the year before, his recent years at this track have been marred by difficulties.
In the last 11 Daytona races, Busch has suffered six DNFs, including five crash-related retirements and one engine failure, notably a 34th-place finish at the opener earlier this year due to a wreck. Once accustomed to frequent trips to victory lane, Busch has faced a dearth of opportunities to win in recent seasons.
Season Performance and Support From Teammates
Busch’s closest approach to victory in 2025 came at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in March, where he led 42 laps but finished fifth after Christopher Bell overtook him near the finish. His only other top-five this year was a fifth-place finish at the Chicago street course. Beyond COTA, Busch has led just 20 laps during the entire season, highlighting his challenges.
Meanwhile, teammate Austin Dillon, who has already clinched a playoff spot, has pledged to support Busch in his effort to reach the postseason at Daytona. Fans, eager to see Busch return to winning form after a two-year drought, hope the upcoming race will be the moment he silences critics and secures a crucial victory.