Coca-Cola 600: After the All-Star Ruckus, Kyle Busch on the Favorable Side of Charlotte’s Recent History

Last weekend, Kyle Busch really got his elbows out during the race, and poor Ricky Stenhouse Jr was on the receiving end. This all culminated in the #47 drivers waiting for Busch after the race and brawling with him. The end result was fine for the JTG Daugherty Racing driver and suspensions for some of his crew members. However, the harshest punishment was reserved for Stenhouse’s father, who earned an indefinite suspension.

This weekend, Busch will be more than eager to banish the demons of the 2024 All-Star race at North Wilkesboro. The Charlotte Motor Speedway provides the perfect backdrop for his redemption arc. As an added bonus, it would help get his 2024 challenge on track, as he guns for a third NASCAR Cup Series title.

Does Kyle Busch stand a chance of winning the Coca-Cola 600?

Frankly, all eyes are on Kyle Larson as he eyes a historic double with the Coca-Cola 600 and Indy 500. That being said, it would be foolhardy to assume that the Hendrick Motorsports star is a shoo-in for victory. IndyCar has its own stars, and NASCAR’s competition is just as fierce. Among the many contenders for the Coke 600 victory is Kyle Busch himself. Although Richard Childress Racing has not been in great form, Busch himself has a decent history at Charlotte.

As per a Driver Averages report, he has finished in the Top 10 in the last three Coca-Cola 600s. In fact, his best finish was a fine P2 finish during the 2022 season, his final year with Joe Gibbs Racing. Prior to that, he won the 2018 edition of the Coca-Cola 600 during his Joe Gibbs Racing heyday.

What other factors back him to win at Charlotte?

Again, taking the last three races, Kyle Busch has not finished lower than P6. Going back even further, he has finished within the Top 6 at every Coca-Cola 600 since 2017. Even before that, he crashed out in the 2016 edition and finished 11th in the year previous. However one has to bear in mind that that was his first race back since his injury earlier that year in 2015.

Rolling back the years, his hot streak of excellent Coca-Cola 600 finishes began in 2008 with third place. In subsequent years, he finished 6th, 3rd, 32nd, 3rd, 38th and 9th. So if one had to really think about it, don’t dare try and rule out Kyle Busch for the 2024 Coca-Cola 600.