Rowdy is turning heads this season. It started with when he teamed up with Richard Childress, bidding farewell to his 15-year-old association with Toyota and Joe Gibbs Racing. The 2023 season began on a high note for Busch, with three trips to the victory lane under the RCR banner. However, the road has been far from smooth since then.

Busch has faced a slew of challenges, from technical issues to team missteps, leaving a sour taste in his mouth. Despite already securing a playoff spot, he now has just three races to secure his position in the playoffs round of 12. Turning his focus to Darlington with his #8 Chevy, Busch managed an underwhelming 11th-place finish. What truly defined the race, though, were the woes and questionable decisions by the RCR crew.

No more room for playoff disappointments as Busch demands RCR to up their game

In a pre-race press conference before the second playoff round at Kansas Speedway, the spotlight was on NASCAR star Rowdy Busch as he faced questions about his playoff journey. Given a 20-point cushion above the cutoff, when questioned about his confidence in harnessing the car’s potential to secure advancement, Busch expressed unwavering confidence in his team’s capabilities under one condition.

“I feel like if we can do what we’re capable of every week, we would be fine. We wouldn’t even be worried. But last week, we drove from all the way back to the front and got up into the top 6 and ready to challenge for the top 5 finish we were gonna have. And then the strategy played a role. And we were back in the traffic again.

“We came up forward and got to 11th and the two that we had restarted next to, #19 [Martin Truex Jr. ] and #4 [Kevin Harvick], only finished 19th and 20th.

“So, we made good ground, which was good. But you know, it’s… Can’t have those issues every week and think that you are gonna come out of it. So, you got to be able to keep that track position when you get it,” Busch narrated.

Busch’s resolve stems from the lessons of the past, as he does not want to relive the disappointment of last year when both he and RCR were eliminated after the initial playoff round. Busch’s last statement, “So you got to be able to keep that track position when you get it,” has taken on profound significance as his 2023 stint took yet another unexpected twist during practice at Kansas.

Kyle Busch’s playoff dreams derailed

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This time, it was a cut tire that dealt a cruel blow to his playoff dreams. The incident unfolded when contact with the unforgiving outside wall left Busch’s Camaro with substantial damage, particularly to the right rear quarter panel.

The severity of the damage necessitated the team to make a difficult decision — replacing crucial components of the primary car with parts from the backup vehicle. On the other hand, NASCAR’s stringent vehicle damage policy led to him being barred from the qualifying rounds. Busch is now slated to begin Sunday’s race from the very back of the pack, alongside Ty Gibbs.

With visible frustration simmering, Busch expressed his sentiments after his contact with the outside wall, stating, “Just like every other weekend. Always put in a hole. Always behind, and have to come and dig ourselves out. Hate it for all of the guys, the car was really good (…) And here we are starting last again. Just never ends. I don’t know what to do to change it.”

 It’s a season of ups and downs for Rowdy, and NASCAR fans are keeping a close eye on his journey.

Read more: “What the Fu*k Happened”- Furious Kyle Busch Blasted Off RCR on Radio After Former Controversial Manufacturer’s Daytona Surprise