For Kyle Busch, there’s only one goal right now—getting back to his winning ways.
After a brutal 57-race winless streak dating back to Gateway in 2023, the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion has been staring down his toughest challenge yet. The 2024 season was a disaster, marking the end of his 19-year win streak and seeing him finish outside the top 15 in the standings for the first time since 2005.
Busch isn’t taking it lightly. The fire is dwindling, but he refuses to let it burn out.
Going Back to the Beginning: Busch’s Quest for Redemption
The 2024 season wrapped up in November, but Busch has been anything but idle during the offseason. From supporting his son’s Tulsa racing career to making an impact at the Chili Bowl Nationals, the former Cup Series king is doing everything he can to rediscover his edge.
And now, in a desperate bid to revive his former self, Busch is going back to where it all started—his Legends racing roots.
Before his NASCAR debut in 2004, Busch was already a phenom. He dominated the ARCA Menards Series, made his mark in ASA Standings, and, most notably, built his legend in Legends Cars racing.
🏆 65 Legends Cars wins
🏆 Two championships at The Bullring (Las Vegas Motor Speedway)
That early dominance catapulted him into one of NASCAR’s most decorated careers, with 231 career victories across all national series. But with his Cup Series success now stalled, Busch is looking to his past to find his future.
Kyle Busch Jumps Back Into a Legends Car—After 22 Years!
Recently, Busch took the wheel of a Legends car for the first time since 2003, and even his family was shocked.
🗣️ “22 years ago?!” his wife Samantha Busch gasped when she heard the gap.
🗣️ “I didn’t know it was that long! …Have you practiced on a Sim or anything?”
Busch, never short on confidence, laughed it off.
🗣️ “Yeah, Brex (his son) and I raced each other and I kicked his a–.”
Despite the two-decade gap, Busch remained confident. When asked about the differences in the car, he shrugged it off:
🗣️ “I don’t think they’re that much different, but probably a little bit.”
A Jittery Return, But Progress is Progress
Busch’s return to grassroots racing hasn’t been all smooth sailing. His Chili Bowl Nationals debut was a mixed bag:
✅ Rocketed from 7th to 2nd place in just the third heat
✅ Finished on the podium in F-Main
❌ Ultimately placed 15th in the final
It’s been the same with his Legends car return. Starting dead last in a 12-car race, his wife Samantha set the bar high:
🗣️ “What’s our goal? I say 5th.”
Busch, still shaking off the rust, was less sure of himself:
🗣️ “Pass ’em one at a time… I don’t have a clue what I am doing there right now.”
Yet, after clawing his way up to 8th place, Busch celebrated like it was a Cup Series win, pumping his fist in the air:
🗣️ “Yeah! Eighth!”
Is ‘Rowdy’ Ready for a Comeback?
Busch knows he’s running out of time to get back to his dominant self. His Richard Childress Racing teammate sees growth, and Busch himself is determined to rediscover the form that made him a two-time champion.
Will going back to his roots help Busch find the missing spark? Or is the era of ‘Rowdy’ Busch’s dominance officially over?
One thing’s for sure—he’s not going down without a fight.