Kyle Busch, a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, is facing a challenging 2025 season that has put his playoff hopes in jeopardy. After 17 races, Busch sits 19th in the points standings with only one Top-5 and five Top-10 finishes. His winless streak has extended into a second year, compounded by two Did-Not-Finish (DNF) races, including a significant early exit in Mexico City. With just nine races left in the regular season, he trails the playoff cutoff by 63 points, making it critical for him to either secure a win or consistently score high points to remain in contention.
The situation is exacerbated by a surge of new winners this season. For instance, when Busch crashed in Mexico City, Shane Van Gisbergen leveraged his road racing expertise to vault from 33rd in points into playoff eligibility. The following weekend, Chase Briscoe earned his first career win at Pocono, intensifying the competition and potentially reducing Busch’s chances further if more new winners emerge.
Busch candidly discussed his struggles and the strategic adjustments needed in an interview with Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports. He emphasized the importance of accumulating stage points, which have been a major shortfall for his team. Busch noted that if another new winner appears, it would put him in a “must-win” situation. He stressed the need for consistent, strong performances like the one at Circuit of the Americas (COTA), where he earned 14 of his 19 total points for the season. Achieving similar results over the next eight weeks could put him back in playoff contention, especially if other drivers encounter problems. However, he acknowledged that their recent performances, including a poor race at Pocono where they “unloaded soft” and failed to capitalize, have hurt their chances.
Busch took full responsibility for the Mexico City crash, which happened early in the race under wet conditions when he locked up entering Turn 1, causing a multi-car pileup that ended his race prematurely. This incident, along with the lack of clean air racing at Pocono, has significantly impacted his points tally and playoff prospects.
Despite these setbacks, Busch remains optimistic about certain tracks where he has historically performed well, such as Dover and Indianapolis, viewing them as opportunities to earn the stage points needed to climb back into playoff contention. He also sees superspeedway races, like Daytona, as potential turning points, recalling how close he came to winning the spring 2024 race there.
In addition to his on-track struggles, Busch recently reignited an old rivalry with Dale Earnhardt Jr. following comments about Earnhardt Jr.’s brief stint as a pit box crew chief replacement at Pocono. Busch dismissed Earnhardt Jr.’s role as merely a “publicity stunt” and a “warm body sitting on top of the box,” remarks that sparked backlash from fans and commentators who defended Earnhardt Jr.’s strategic contributions during the race. This exchange has stirred renewed tension between the two, with some fans anticipating boos directed at Busch in upcoming races, which might fuel his competitive fire.
In summary, Kyle Busch’s 2025 NASCAR season is marked by a critical struggle to secure playoff qualification amid a winless drought, strategic missteps, and rising competition from new winners. While he acknowledges his mistakes and the urgency of the situation, Busch is determined to leverage his strengths at select tracks and maintain resilience as the regular season winds down.
