Kyle Busch had history in his grasp—until it slipped away in the worst way possible. The Richard Childress Racing driver was on the verge of snapping a 57-race winless streak and claiming his first-ever Daytona 500 victory in what would have been a storybook moment, 20 years after his Cup Series debut.
But fate had other plans. A Lap 186 wreck, triggered by Joey Logano’s aggressive move, saw Busch’s No. 8 Chevrolet caught up in the chaos. While the damage didn’t seem severe, NASCAR refused to let him rejoin the race, citing the new Damage Vehicle Policy (DVP)—a decision that left Busch furious and convinced he had been unfairly sidelined.
“Parked by @nascar officials. The rule says you have 3 attempts to make minimum speed. The race never went back green yet. I don’t even think they know their own rules or procedures.”
Busch’s frustration boiled over on social media, but not everyone shared his outrage. Denny Hamlin, NASCAR’s ultimate insider, took it upon himself to get the real story—and what he found didn’t support Busch’s argument.
Denny Hamlin’s Investigation: NASCAR Got It Right
Speaking on his Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin admitted he had doubts at first—but after a direct conversation with NASCAR’s Senior VP of Competition, Elton Sawyer, he changed his stance.
“I have to disagree with Kyle here,” Hamlin said. “Kyle was incorrect in saying you get three attempts to make speed. That is not the case.”
So, what actually happened?
- Busch’s No. 8 car had four flat tires, forcing officials to use the air jack system to lift it.
- For reasons unknown, air couldn’t be filled into the tires.
- The car had to be towed to the work area instead of the garage.
- Busch’s seven-minute DVP timer expired while still on the track.
According to NASCAR rules, once a car is towed and the DVP clock expires, any repairs made after being released from the garage are invalid. That’s why Busch was forced to retire from the race.
Hamlin backed up NASCAR’s call:
“I think Kyle was just a little mixed up on the rules there. … When you go to the garage and come back out, it has to be right. That’s why they give you as much time as you need to fix it.”
A Daytona 500 Dream Turned Nightmare
Busch had every reason to be devastated.
For two decades, he has chased the one race that has eluded him—Daytona. This was supposed to be his Earnhardt moment, mirroring Dale Sr.’s legendary 1998 victory, which came 20 years after his Cup debut.
Instead, Busch left empty-handed, relegated to a 34th-place finish, his dream shattered just 15 laps from the checkered flag.
His Daytona heartbreak continues:
- 19 starts at the Great American Race
- 0 wins
- Another painful “what if” moment
It’s the kind of loss that will haunt a driver, but Busch isn’t dwelling on it.
Can Busch End the Drought at Atlanta?
With Daytona behind him, Busch shifts focus to Atlanta, where he narrowly missed out on a victory last season. The 2025 AmBetter Health 400 presents a perfect redemption opportunity, and Rowdy knows it.
But can he shake off the Daytona demons and finally return to victory lane?
If there’s one thing we know about Kyle Busch, it’s this—he doesn’t stay down for long. Atlanta could be his moment.
What do you think? Will Busch finally snap his winless streak this weekend? Drop your thoughts below!