Kyle Busch isn’t one to mince words, and he’s let loose with a fiery opinion on NASCAR’s latest changes to the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) race format. The two-time Cup Series champion, known for his no-nonsense style, aired his grievances after the adjustments were revealed for the upcoming event on March 2, 2025, at the Austin, Texas road course. His blunt verdict? “We lost two and didn’t gain anything,” Busch declared, signaling his frustration with what he sees as a step backward for the sport.
The Richard Childress Racing star shared his unfiltered thoughts in a recent interview ahead of the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix, NASCAR’s first road course showdown of the 2025 season. While NASCAR hasn’t detailed every tweak, Busch’s gripe likely zeroes in on the decision to ditch stage cautions—a move confirmed earlier this year. These breaks, which divide races into segments and award bonus points, have long been a staple of Cup Series events. For COTA, however, NASCAR opted to scrap two of them, aiming for a more traditional, uninterrupted flow on the 3.41-mile track.
The Las Vegas native isn’t alone in wrestling with NASCAR’s evolving rulebook, but his outspoken stance sets him apart. While some competitors have shrugged off the shift, Busch’s critique underscores a broader tension: how much should NASCAR tweak its formula to balance tradition and innovation? For him, this round of changes tips the scales the wrong way. “You’ve got to give us something if you’re taking that much away,” he added, hinting at a disconnect between the sanctioning body and its racers.
Busch heads to COTA fresh off a rocky Atlanta outing, where he finished 11th after clashing with Spire Motorsports’ Carson Hocevar. Now, with the road course looming, he’s got bigger fish to fry—namely, adapting to a race he believes has been needlessly gutted. Last year, he muscled his No. 8 Chevrolet to a ninth-place finish at COTA, but that was with stage breaks intact. This time, he’ll face a new beast: a nonstop, 68-lap grind where pit strategy and tire wear could make or break the day.
As NASCAR barrels toward its next chapter, Busch’s hot take lights a fuse under the COTA debate. Will the changes flop, as he predicts, or prove him wrong with a thriller in Austin? One thing’s certain: when Kyle Busch speaks his mind, the racing world listens.
