Ever since he arrived as a 19-year-old phenom driving in NASCAR’s Xfinity Series, Kyle Busch has been difficult to keep up with on the track or in the record books.
Busch surpassed 60 wins April 17 at Bristol, 18 days shy of his 37th birthday and faster than all but the three winningest drivers in Cup Series history — Richard Petty (200 victories), David Pearson (105) and Jeff Gordon (93).
True to Busch’s nature, it was not fast enough.
“We’ve had a slow go of it lately,” he told the Orlando Sentinel. “I hate that.”
Since winning 18 times in 2017 to 2019, culminating with his second season championship, Busch has just 4 victories. This includes one in 2022.
Busch can do the math.
“If I could have won 4 races a year, I’d be right on the heels of Dale Earnhardt,” he said.
With 76 trips to Victory Lane, Earnhardt sits eighth in Cup Series victories ahead of Busch, who is tied in ninth-place with Kevin Harvick as the winningest active driver. Cale Yarborough and Jimmie Johnson are next higher on the all-time list with 83 wins, followed by Darrell Waltrip and Bobby Allison at 84 — tied for fourth.
Busch could chase down all of them if he regains the consistency that allowed him to win 5 races during four of five seasons, beginning with his first title season in 2015.
“I would like to think that the runway is still six, seven, eight years where I can have an opportunity to continue to win,” he said.
Busch’s next chance arrives Saturday night during the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway.
Busch is not among the regular-season finale’s favorites at a track where he has a single Cup Series victory, during the 2008 400-miler. Yet he is always a threat to win anywhere and more motivated than usual.
While Busch’s legacy clearly matters to him, he has more immediate concerns.
Busch looks to lure a new sponsor and potentially interest from a new team after 15 seasons with Joe Gibbs Racing. Gibbs has said he wants to retain Busch’s services, but M&Ms will end its sponsorship of the familiar No. 18 Toyota Camry.
Busch’s car number matches the number of seasons during which he’s recorded at least on Cup victory, tied with Petty’s record.
Consistency, driving ability and age make Busch an attractive option if Gibbs cannot secure a sponsor willing to pay approximately $20 million.
“It’s not always as easy on the outside as it might seem,” Busch said. “I feel like my resumé already speaks for itself. That right there gives me the opportunity to be able to talk to some teams that maybe some other guys don’t.”
More trips to Victory Lane certainly could enhance his bargaining position.
Near-misses this season bother Busch, who counts Nashville, Pocono and Las Vegas as races he should have won. But with the Coke Zero Sugar 400 and Cup Series playoffs ahead, Busch is eager to change his fortunes.
“Sometimes the luck isn’t your way,” he said. “We’ve got to do a good job here to finish out this year and get those wins.”
