Kyle Busch Faces Playoff Deadline: Richmond A Crucial Opportunity

With only three races remaining in the NASCAR Cup Series regular season, two-time champion Kyle Busch faces a stark reality: he must secure a victory to clinch his playoff spot.

Experts Eye Richmond as Potential Breakthrough Venue

Analysts are pointing to the upcoming race at Richmond Raceway as a prime opportunity for Busch, despite his winless streak dating back to June 2023. The 0.75-mile oval has historically been a dominant track for the veteran driver.

“Honestly, let’s talk about Kyle Busch. What a day for him. Starting in the back in a backup car, crashes hard. Now, was in the mix running well at times. You’re going to Richmond, a place he does really, really well at and if you can take from today and apply it there — I feel like Richmond is gonna be one of those things that comes out of nowhere and surprises people.”

—Jordan Bianchi, The Athletic

Jeff Gluck, Bianchi’s co-host on “The Teardown” podcast, echoed this sentiment. He believes Richmond could surprise the field with a first-time winner this season, specifically highlighting Busch as a strong contender.

Busch’s Dominance at Richmond

Busch boasts an impressive record at Richmond, with six wins and only one finish outside the top 20 in 38 starts. He achieved a remarkable streak of ten consecutive top-10 finishes at the track between September 2017 and August 2022. Even in the Next Gen car era, he has secured three top-10s in six starts.

The recent race at Iowa Speedway presented a missed opportunity. Busch was forced to start at the rear in a backup car after a practice crash. While he managed to contend at points during the race, he ultimately finished 20th.

“We started the weekend in a deficit after going to a backup car on Saturday and spent most of the day Sunday just battling for track position in our Chevrolet. Crew chief Randall Burnett made some race strategy calls that got us into the top 10 and earned us some stage points, but we lost that track position in Stage 3 and struggled to return to the front. Our Chevy couldn’t turn in traffic, even with the freshest tires and dirty air didn’t help. We busted our behinds out there today but didn’t have enough.”

—Kyle Busch

Busch‘s performance in Iowa highlights the urgency of his situation. With upcoming races at Watkins Glen and Daytona also offering chances for a win, the pressure mounts on the veteran driver to capitalize on his remaining opportunities.