After career-worst two-year stretch, will Kyle Busch ever get back to form?

Entering his 22nd full-time season of NASCAR Cup Series competition, there's never been more doubt surrounding the abilities of Kyle Busch behind the wheel of a race car. 

Busch, 40, is a two-time Cup Series champion and a 63-time race winner. But he hasn't won in 93 races, with his last victory coming at Gateway in June 2023. 

Busch has also missed the Cup Series playoffs in two consecutive seasons for the first time in his career and is driving for an organization in Richard Childress Racing, that, despite boasting an excellent NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series program, can't consistently find speed in the Cup Series. 

That begs the question: Will Busch ever get back to being the driver he once was? 

Why Kyle Busch may never bounce back

The biggest factor in the ultimate outcome of the twilight years of Busch's career isn't in his control. 

At this point, it seems likely that Busch completes his career with RCR. It seems unlikely that another team — especially one near the upper echelon of the Cup Series garage — would sign him when he's clearly regressed. 

RCR has not been a consistent threat since Kevin Harvick drove for the organization over a decade ago. Busch did win three races with RCR in 2023, but his disappointing end to that campaign was a precursor to his lack of success in 2024 and 2025. 

Hendrick Motorsports is Chevrolet's top team, and that won't be changing anytime soon. Trackhouse Racing is not yet a perennial title threat, but it has a solid franchise driver in Ross Chastain, a road course ace in Shane van Gisbergen and a young phenom in Connor Zilisch to anchor its lineup. 

RCR is struggling mightily to find speed at the moment, and no one is walking through the door to save it. 

Why Kyle Busch may regain form

At the same time, Busch is still an incredible talent who has more fire and passion for his job than most. 

He led 42 laps in what was his best performance of 2025 at Circuit of the Americas. And while he hasn't won a Cup Series race since 2023, he has won three Craftsman Truck Series races in 10 starts over the past two years. 

A similar season to the past two in 2026 would seem to spell the end of the road for Busch, who has an enduring legacy but can't seem to find the extra gear he once had.