Kyle Busch experienced a heart-wrenching moment during the NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway on Sunday. Leading the race with 32 laps remaining, Busch’s car spun out of control, dramatically altering the course of what seemed destined to be a good day for the driver of Richard Childress Racing. This unfortunate incident ultimately landed him in 19th place instead of the 1st he so badly wanted.
Busch recounted the details of the spin, which took place on Lap 235 of Stage 3, as he fiercely defended his lead against Ross Chastain.
“Running 10 10s trying to make up speed and cover the 1 car and make sure I could stay ahead of him,” Busch recounted via 5 Goats. “The 14 [Chase Briscoe] turned down the hill in order to get clean air from the guy in front of him. And so, I went to his outside and plugged a hole. I just — air. For some reason, felt nothing off the corner and hadn’t really had that like that the whole time. There’s a term for that I wanna say right now but I can’t.”
Prior to the spin, Busch had been locked in a dogfight with Chastain, tirelessly working to maintain his lead.
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“Busting my butt and I hate it for my guys and everyone at RCR. They deserved to get the win today. We hung underneath the 1 car [Ross Chastain] there for 15 laps trying to pass him.
“Finally passed him and could get away from him a little bit and catch a lap car. We’d get backed up a little bit and the gap just kind of kept doing that. I guess I just got in too big a hurry,” he reflected.
The emotional aftermath of the incident was clear. Busch did not hold back his feelings. “It just did [slip away],” Busch said. “I’m numb. I don’t know what to do.”
Busch’s spin at Kansas is more than just a singular event; it represents the continuation of a challenging period for the veteran driver. With a winless streak of 52 races, this is a record that is undoubtedly weighing heavily on both him and his team. Entering the season with the aspiration to maintain his 19-year streak of at least one Cup Series win per season, Busch’s near-misses, including a heartbreaker earlier this year at Darlington, have only added to the pressure.
NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 At Kansas Speedway Results
- Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
- William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
- Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
- Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Penske Racing Ford
- Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
- Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
- Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
- Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
- Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
- Zane Smith, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
- Chris Buescher, No. 17 RFK Racing Ford
- Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
- Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
- Joey Logano, No. 22 Penske Racing Ford
- Corey LaJoie, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Ford
- Ryan Preece, No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
- Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota
- Noah Gragson, No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
- Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
- Daniel Hemric, No. 31 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
- Ty Dillon, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
- Brad Keselowski, No. 6 RFK Racing Ford
- Harrison Burton, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford
- Chase Briscoe, No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
- Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota
- Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
- Todd Gilliland, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 JTG-Daughtery Racing Chevrolet
- Michael McDowell, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford
- John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
- Kaz Grala, No. 15 Rick Ware Racing Ford
- Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
- Justin Haley, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
- Austin Cindric, No. 2 Penske Racing Ford
- Erik Jones, Legacy Motor Club Toyota
- Jimmie Johnson, No. 84 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
- JJ Yeley, No. 44 NY Racing Team Chevrolet
- Josh Berry, No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford