Kyle Busch, who achieved seven wins out of eight starts in this year’s Summer Shootout on the quarter-mile oval, is aiming to make history by securing an eighth victory in the 2026 season. His performance at the 2025 Cook Out Summer Shootout finale at Charlotte Motor Speedway on July 29 demonstrated his dominance despite weather-related disruptions and high heat conditions that challenged drivers and vehicles alike.
In the Masters Division race, Busch started on pole position and led every lap to clinch the win. Following the race, he shared on X his clear goal of setting a new record with eight wins. However, the Masters Division title for 2025 was won by Robby Faggart, who finished the season 47 points ahead of Busch. The INEX national competitions will resume in September with the Bandolero Nationals returning to Charlotte alongside Road Course and Dirt Nationals events.
Additional Highlights: Shane van Gisbergen’s Victory and Busch’s Truck Series Success
Trackhouse Racing’s Shane van Gisbergen marked a significant milestone by capturing his first Cook Out Summer Shootout win and oval victory in the Pro Legends division, starting third and overcoming strong competition at Charlotte. Meanwhile, Busch’s NASCAR Cup season continues to present challenges. He currently ranks 15th in the Cup points standings with 478 points and four races left in the regular season.
In the Truck Series, Busch recently earned his first win of the year at the Fr8 208 at Atlanta. He led 80 laps and narrowly held off Stewart Friesen to secure his 67th career victory in trucks, reinforcing his versatility and competitiveness across formats.
Ongoing Struggles for Busch in NASCAR Cup League Amidst Consistent Top-10 Finishes
Despite seven top-10 finishes and leading 62 laps this season, Kyle Busch has yet to win a NASCAR Cup race in 2025. After a disappointing 34th-place finish in the Daytona 500, he pushed back with a seventh-place at Atlanta and a strong showing at Circuit of the Americas (COTA), where he led 42 laps and finished fifth. Another notable result came at the Chicago Street Race in July, where he recovered from an early spin to secure a top-five finish.
Currently, Busch is positioned 18th in the playoff standings, sitting 81 points below the cutoff line. Last season marked a difficult period for him, as he missed the playoffs for the first time since the current format began, finishing 20th in the year-end standings and ending a 19-year streak of winning at least one race per season.
Upcoming Race at Iowa Speedway Presents Fresh Challenge for Busch
The 23rd NASCAR Cup race of the 2025 schedule will take place on Sunday, August 3, at Iowa Speedway in Newton. Busching faces a daunting task as he looks to improve on last year’s disappointing 35th-place finish, where he was unable to complete all 350 laps on the D-shaped oval track. This race represents another opportunity for Busch to build momentum in his quest for success during a difficult season.
