Kyle Busch seems to have finally let the wounds of the past heal. The incident at the Circuit of the Americas on Lap 40 that transpired between him and Christopher Bell in 2024 had been a significant blip in the rear-view mirror of his racing career. Bell’s maneuver that caused Busch to spin out, and consequent loss of several positions, had sparked off an on-track face-off. Bell, who hails from Oklahoma, was compelled to accept his culpability in the incident.
However, the recent EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix witnessed a radical shift in the dynamics between the two drivers. A grueling duel in the closing laps of the race saw Bell cleanly outmaneuver Busch, thereby earning his adversary’s respect.
Bell, known for his ‘clean’ driving style, was on a mission to redeem himself at the Circuit of the Americas. He had previously borne the brunt of Busch’s fury when the Nevada-born racer had warned him of a potential retaliation. However, this time Bell’s No. 20 Toyota boasted superior speed and grip, making it inevitable that he would eventually outpace Busch.
Post-race, Busch acknowledged Bell’s commendable performance, saying, “I’ll give Christopher credit. He ran really hard, and I was a complete b—head. He did a great job working me over and just doing it the right way. So congrats to him, congrats to the 20 bunch. But I wish it was us.”
Christopher Bell’s patient tactics finally paid dividends at the Circuit of the Americas. His strategic moves led him to snatch the lead from Kyle Busch on Lap 91 of 95. Busch, hamstrung by deteriorating tires, was unable to defend his position. After being overtaken by Bell, Busch fell prey to William Byron, Tyler Reddick, and Chase Elliott, dropping from first to fifth position.
A critical incident involving Bell’s teammate, Denny Hamlin, further impacted Busch’s prospects. Hamlin lost grip and collided with Busch’s teammate, Austin Dillon, prompting a caution. Busch’s two-second lead evaporated as his rivals capitalized on the opportunity to pit for fresh tires. Speaking after the race, Busch lamented, “Was just trying to protect my tires… Then when you get a yellow and get bunched up, it’s complete defensive mode.”
Despite the turbulent race, Busch found several positives to draw from the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix. He had started the race at 8th place but managed to take the lead from road-course expert Shane van Gisbergen on Lap 27. Another confrontation with Bell could have spelled disaster for Busch, but the race ended on a positive note for both drivers.
The past year has been a challenging period for Kyle Busch. Despite several close calls at Atlanta, Darlington, and Daytona, he was unable to clinch a victory in 2024. His failure to win at the Circuit of the Americas has now extended his winless streak to 60 races.
Busch’s clash with Christopher Bell wasn’t entirely devoid of controversy. Bell was seen making contact with Busch, a two-time Cup Series winner, which could have contributed to the significant drop in performance of the No. 8 Chevy. Reflecting on the incident, Busch stated, “The contact we made with the 20 there between 2 and 3 bent the right rear, and it was a completely different race car after that.”
Despite the series of setbacks, Busch managed to keep his cool and was even graceful towards Bell in the post-race interview. Whether this is a sign of him mellowing down with age and experience or a strategic reserve of fury for a future race, only time will tell.
