Kyle Busch is starting the 2026 NASCAR season with renewed focus, aiming to secure victories after a challenging stretch in recent years. Despite setbacks, his pole position at Daytona has fueled his motivation to return to the winner’s circle, with the Kyle Busch Daytona 500 still remaining elusive.
Over the last two seasons, Busch has come close to winning multiple times but was often thwarted by crashes, mechanical failures, or pit stop errors. After switching from Joe Gibbs Racing to Richard Childress Racing in 2023, he quickly found success with three victories in his first year. However, the momentum has slowed since then.
Busch maintains that his passion has never waned. Addressing critics in an interview with FOX8 WGHP, he rejected the notion that his age or recent results limit his potential.
Absolutely, I think there’s a lot of people out there that want to be detractors and want to say that you’re too old, you can’t do it, this and that. And I’m like, all I did was move from Joe Gibbs Racing to Richard Childress Racing, and when I first got here, we won three races in one year,
Kyle Busch, driver
He continued,
So it’s just a matter of putting all the right people in all the right places and having the things kind of go your way,
So again, a lot of different things that can happen in this business that can set you forward or bring you back, and so we want to get back up towards the front.
Kyle Busch, driver
Persistent Quest to Capture the Daytona 500
Among his career goals, winning the Daytona 500 remains Busch’s highest priority. Despite leading more than 340 laps in the prestigious race—the most of any active driver without a victory at Daytona—the trophy has repeatedly slipped away.
Reflecting on his long pursuit, Busch shared a relatable analogy:
If you were eating and you haven’t eaten in 22 years, you’d be pretty hungry, right?
Kyle Busch, driver
He added,
So that’s a race I certainly want to shout out on and win and check the box for, we’ve been able to accomplish it. It’s been a long time. I mean, we’ve been ‘Oh so close’ there a few times, more so since being at RCR. I’ve had some really, really good chances of winning that race,
Kyle Busch, driver
Busch’s attempts at Daytona include several near-misses. His first race with Richard Childress Racing saw him leading at the halfway mark, running closely with teammate Austin Dillon before a late caution shuffled the field. A last-lap crash relegated him to 19th place. In 2019, he finished second behind Joe Gibbs Racing competitor Denny Hamlin in a notable 1-2 finish. Two years later, Busch was in contention on the final lap until a crash triggered by Joey Logano dropped him out of the running, finishing 14th.
This pattern has repeated through his 20 previous tries at the event. As Busch returns with a new Chevrolet body and driving the iconic No. 8 car, he aims to position himself among the frontrunners once again, hoping the variables align to finally claim the Daytona 500 victory.
Looking Ahead: What the Future Holds for Busch
With 63 Cup wins in 750 starts and two NASCAR Cup Series championships (2015 and 2019), Busch stands as one of the most accomplished drivers in the sport. Despite the obstacles and setbacks, his competitive spirit remains strong. The 40-year-old Richard Childress Racing driver is determined to prove doubters wrong and add the Daytona 500 trophy to his extensive résumé.
As the 2026 season unfolds, Busch’s pursuit of this elusive race win will be closely watched by fans and experts alike, potentially reshaping his legacy in NASCAR’s history.
