Kyle Busch arrived at Dover Motor Speedway this weekend burdened by a winless streak extending back to 2023 and the challenge of racing without any practice data. Rain forced the cancellation of both practice and qualifying sessions before Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race, leaving Busch and his team with no fresh information to fine-tune their setup.
With no recent track time available, Busch must depend on insights from his performance last year to formulate his race strategy. This approach is critical as he chases his first victory of the 2025 season at Dover, a track where familiarity usually offers a competitive edge.
Despite these difficulties, Busch remains composed. Starting from 10th place by virtue of NASCAR’s Performance Metric System rather than qualifying time, he emphasized the importance of leaning on his previous experience to manage this unusual situation.
Using Last Year’s Setup as the Guiding Plan
In a pre-race discussion, Busch explained his strategy clearly, stating,
I would say that you take everything that you did use last year because it was good for you, and you try to just look at all of that and try to replicate that as much as you can without knowing anything about the tire with no tire test being here, no wheel force test being here, anything like that.
He further added,
So, you might as well just copy and paste last year, go out there on the racetrack and hope that it suits your race car again this year like it did last year,
—Kyle Busch, NASCAR Cup Series Driver.
By relying heavily on the data from 2024, the team hopes to overcome the challenge posed by the new, untested Goodyear tires, which add an extra layer of uncertainty to this year’s race setup.
Kyle Busch’s Track Mastery at Dover Underpins Confidence
Busch’s history at Dover speaks volumes about his capability on this demanding one-mile oval. He boasts three wins, 14 top-five finishes, and 23 top-ten finishes on this track, a record unmatched by any driver competing this weekend. This history provides a strong foundation for his confidence despite the lack of recent practice laps.
Last year, Busch’s impressive pole position start translated into a solid fourth-place finish, proving the effectiveness of their setup. This past performance serves as a blueprint as they make minor adjustments to adapt to the latest tire specifications.
The Stakes Are High for Busch’s Championship Pursuit
With the playoff cutoff looming, Busch’s current standing at 18th place puts him just 37 points shy of making the top 16. Securing a win at Dover is essential to cement his place in the postseason. Encouragingly, strong finishes in recent races at Chicago and Sonoma have built momentum heading into this crucial event.
Adding emotional significance to the race, Busch will compete with a special patriotic paint scheme, created through a partnership between Richard Childress Racing and Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen. This tribute honors veterans, including 67 employees at Cheddar’s, providing additional inspiration for Busch’s performance on Sunday.
Anticipation Builds as Fans Watch Busch Navigate the Unpredictable Race
The combination of missing practice data and critical championship pressure creates a high-stakes atmosphere for Busch’s Sunday run. Fans and analysts alike are eager to see whether his reliance on past success and data can translate into a strong finish and, ideally, an end to his prolonged winless streak at Dover.
Given his proven track record at the Monster Mile and his determined mindset, Busch’s performance will be closely scrutinized as a pivotal moment in his 2025 campaign unfolds.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Where will Kyle Busch go in 2026?
A. CONCORD, N.C. — Kyle Busch will keep racing the No. 8 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing until the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season ends. He and RCR shared this news on Saturday at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Q. Will Kyle Busch retire?
A. Kyle Busch stated that he is not thinking about retiring. He has signed a contract to continue racing with Richard Childress Racing until 2026.
