This season has not been ideal for Kyle Busch. When he has speed, Busch typically loses track position due to poor pit road performance. Can the NASCAR champion bounce back before it’s too late this year?
Through the first six races of the season, this is Kyle Busch’s worst start since 2012. This season his average finishing position has been 16.16, back in 2012 through the first six races, his average finish was 19.33.
According to Rowdy, they have had speed everywhere except for Phoenix. However, other issues have caused the team to fall short of where they should be finishing.
“A lot of missed potential. I feel like we definitely have had cars that have been capable of running in the top ten maybe even the top five,” Busch told the media before the Richmond race. “I felt like we were the only guy that was close to [Kyle] Larson at Vegas and we threw it away on pit road multiple times. Then there’s been other various things of that as well too. Bristol, we were fast but I drove the tires off it one too many times, and maybe that’s why we were fast. In general, we have had some good speed. Phoenix I would say is the outlier of that, that we did not have any speed.
Richmond is a track Kyle Busch is strong at. He has won here, likes the track, and has had strong runs more times than not. Still, he has to go out and do it. He will go out and start the race P15. From there, Busch will attempt to move up to the front of the field and put on a good performance.
Things have ot change and soon for this team. They have tested different pit crew makeups, and nothing has worked at this point.
Kyle Busch could be doing worse
So, things aren’t as bad as they seem for Busch this season. Yes, he had three straight finishes of P22 or worse before COTA. Yes, he only has a single top-5. However, if this wasn’t Rowdy we were talking about, it wouldn’t be much of a talking point.
One top-ten and one top-five finish so far this season. That’s better than many drivers. In terms of points, Busch is off the pace of the leaders but is still 13th overall, that’s within the playoffs.
Now, I know Kyle Busch is not your typical NASCAR Cup Series driver. He has two championships, more than 60 wins and is expected to go out and perform at a high level each and every week. There are no moral victories for Busch on the race track.
Richmond provides an opportunity for Kyle Busch. He has to take full advantage of that opportunity or he is going to be in more of a hole than he already is. For a team that should be contending for a championship, the performances this year fall short. Do you think Busch can turn it around tonight on Easter?
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