Turn 6 at the Circuit of The Americas has been a menace for Kyle Busch in today’s race. First, with Shane van Gisbergen pushing the limits, and then with a race-altering caution. Earlier in the day, Busch was vocal about the driver cutting Turn 6 with no penalties, frustrated by NASCAR’s inconsistent enforcement of track limits. Yet, just when it seemed like he had put those frustrations behind him and was on course for a dream finish, disaster struck.

Kyle Busch was so close to victory

With just 18 laps to go, Kyle Busch was finally, finally in control. After a grueling race filled with chaos, controversy, and frustration over track limits, he had fought his way to the front. Sitting comfortably in first place with a healthy two-second lead over the next driver, William Byron. Busch looked set to claim victory at COTA. His car was dialed in, and his strategy was holding strong. For once, everything seemed to be falling into place. But then—Turn 6 struck again.

This time, it wasn’t Busch losing control or cutting the course. Instead, it was his own Richard Childress Racing teammate, Austin Dillon, who became the unexpected villain in Busch’s story. With Busch leading the pack, chaos unfolded behind him. Denny Hamlin locked up heading into Turn 6A, making contact with Busch’s Richard Childress Racing teammate Austin Dillon’s No. 3 car, sending him spinning into the gravel. The caution flag flew, shaking up the race in a way that would prove costly for Busch.

Stuck and unable to move, Austin Dillon’s misfortune triggered a caution flag. This erased Busch’s hard-earned lead and threw the race into chaos. What should have been a dominant drive to victory suddenly turned into a bitter defeat. Busch ultimately slipped down the order and finished fifth.

Kyle Busch had been the class of the field all afternoon, leading a race-best 42 of the 95 laps in the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix. His No. 8 Chevrolet had the speed, the strategy, and the track position to get the job done. Even after the caution erased his lead, he still had one final shot at victory when the race restarted with 13 laps to go. However, that’s when things started unraveling.

Christopher Bell, piloting the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, applied relentless pressure on Busch in the closing laps. With fresher tires and a well-timed move in the final turn of Lap 90, Bell surged past his former teammate. From there, Busch struggled to hold his ground. His tires were fading, his car was no longer handling the same way, and he slipped further down the order. In the final five laps, he lost three more positions, ultimately finishing fifth. A good 5.943 seconds behind race winner Bell at the checkered flag.

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Fans erupt over Austin Dillon’s costly mistake

For Kyle Busch fans, this was the ultimate heartbreak. Just when it looked like their driver was about to seal the deal at COTA, his own teammate became the reason it all fell apart. While some pointed fingers at Denny Hamlin for initiating the contact, the overwhelming reaction from fans was pure fury directed at Austin Dillon. “Dillon is the worst teammate alive,” one fan ranted, summing up the frustration of many.

The caution completely flipped the race, wiping out Busch’s lead and ultimately costing him a shot at victory. “Can’t have anything as a KB fan,” another fan lamented, watching yet another race slip away under frustrating circumstances. Some couldn’t help but imagine Busch’s reaction inside the car. “Kyle Busch has got to be screaming at his teammate 🤣🤣🤣🤣,” one comment read, highlighting the irony of the situation.

While a few fans insisted, “Nah man, that was all Denny,” the majority weren’t having it. One particularly ruthless fan even went as far as to say, “Austin Dillon should be sent to Guantanamo,” the infamous prison in Cuba. While this was definitely said in jest, the frustration is visible as Busch’s long wait to end his winless streak goes on. Whether Dillon meant to or not, he had just wrecked Kyle Busch’s best shot at victory.

In a post-race interview, Busch admitted that Bell’s fresher tires likely played a role in the outcome, adding, “Maybe the two-lap fresher tires the 20 had made the difference.” Despite his disappointment, Busch still held onto hope, reflecting on how close he had come.“Wish we had a little bit more at the end,” he admitted. But perhaps the most telling quote of all was his final remark, “Congrats to the 20 bunch. But wish it was us.”

For Busch, the frustration is mounting. The last time he celebrated in Victory Lane was back on June 4, 2023. This was at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway. He is now 60 races without a win! What should have been his race to lose ended in heartbreak yet again. The question remains: When will Kyle Busch finally break through again?

What do you think? Is Kyle Busch destined for another win? Or is there only misery ahead in his Cup Series journey? Let us know in the comments!