As the green flag drops on Sunday’s Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway on September 7, Kyle Busch will be aiming to end a 826-day, 78-race winless streak in the NASCAR Cup Series. Busch’s last victory came at Gateway on June 4, 2023, when he secured his third win of the 2023 season driving for Richard Childress Racing, sparking hopes that more victories lay ahead. Instead, his team endured a sharp decline, missing the playoffs for the first time in years and struggling through another winless season in 2024.
Entering the 2025 season, Busch’s dilemma has continued as he remains without a win or a playoff berth, raising questions about whether this Sunday’s race might finally mark a turnaround, despite the ongoing challenges that have plagued his campaign.
Assessing Busch’s Performance and Potential at Gateway
Although the 2025 season has mirrored the difficulties of the previous year, Gateway has historically been one of Busch’s strongest tracks, particularly since the introduction of NASCAR’s Next Gen car. While his overall performance so far this season has been underwhelming, his past results at Gateway offer hope that a victory is within reach.
Kyle Busch demonstrated competitiveness at Gateway in 2022, earning 11 stage points, leading 66 laps, and positioning himself in a prime spot for an overtime restart, only to be edged out by Joey Logano. The very next year, in 2023, Busch dominated the race despite interruptions, leading 121 laps from the pole and taking home the win — his most recent Cup Series victory.
Even during his difficult 2024 season, Busch showed he had speed at Gateway. After qualifying 10th, he ran inside the top 15 for most of the race and pushed into the top 10 late in the second stage. Unfortunately, contact with Kyle Larson on lap 141 caused heavy damage, abruptly ending his chances and resulting in a 35th-place finish.
These past performances underscore the possibility that, if Busch and his No. 8 team can avoid errors and find speed early on in practice and qualifying, he could contend near the front of the field once again.
The Stakes for Busch and RCR This Weekend
The Enjoy Illinois 300 represents the second race of the NASCAR playoffs. Although Busch is currently outside the playoff field, he arguably holds the best opportunity among non-playoff drivers to claim an unexpected headline-grabbing victory. For the Richard Childress Racing (RCR) team, the goal remains clear: get Busch back into the playoffs and reestablish his winning form.
Busch’s motivation could play a crucial role in Sunday’s race. Known for his fiery competitiveness and passion in the garage area, the 63-time Cup winner is likely frustrated by his recent lack of success and eager to break his winless streak.
“You’d be hard-pressed to find a driver as competitive and fiery in the garage area as Busch… the 63-time Cup winner has to be frustrated with his recent lack of success.” —Samuel, National Motorsports Press Association member
Contemplating the Future: Is Busch’s Career at a Turning Point?
At 40 years old, Busch is acutely aware that opportunities to win may become increasingly rare. If he finds himself in contention this Sunday, it’s reasonable to expect he will give everything possible to capture the win that has eluded him for more than two years. The pressure to perform and the awareness that any race could be his last victory opportunity adds weight to his efforts.
Despite the tension and uncertainty surrounding his current performance, Sunday’s race at the 1.25-mile Gateway track stands out as a promising chance for Busch to reclaim a spot in victory lane before potentially enduring a third consecutive winless season.
“If Busch is in contention on Sunday, you have to think that he won’t let the opportunity pass him by.” —Samuel, National Motorsports Press Association member
In a sport where every moment counts, Kyle Busch’s drive to end the longest winless stretch of his career will be on full display, with many watching to see if this weekend marks a pivotal turning point for the seasoned competitor.
