Just a day ago, Kyle Busch stood on Victory Lane at Atlanta Motor Speedway, celebrating yet another dominant win in the Truck Series. His No. 7 Spire Motorsports truck led 80 of the 135 laps, out-dueling Stewart Friesen in a thrilling photo finish. Busch controlled the race from the front, executing his strategy flawlessly. “Just trying to make sure I stayed as far forward as I possibly could,” Busch said.

Fast forward to the next day, and Busch’s mood had taken a complete U-turn. Frustration had replaced his calm race-day approach. Despite starting from sixth, Busch failed to get into the top 10 and found himself in unwanted drafts. Struggling to make any gains a move by Cup Series rookie Carson Hocevar made things worse for the RCR star. So much so that Rowdy threatened to wreck the entire field. He blasted on his team radio and complained about No.77’s unwanted move.

Kyle Busch unveils ‘Rowdy’ avatar!

Kyle Busch started the Ambetter Health 400 in a solid position, rolling off from sixth place. But as the laps clicked by, things started to unravel. The handling on his No. 8 Chevrolet was off, making it difficult to keep pace with the leaders. Adding to his frustration, Hocevar, racing hard on the inside, sent his car up the track and into Busch’s Lane. The move forced the No. 8 to check up, breaking Busch’s momentum and dropping him out of the top 10.

It wasn’t the first time Hocevar had made such a move, and Busch had had enough. “Go tell that 77 he’s done that same f—— move ten times. I don’t care. I’ll f——wreck him,” Busch fumed on team radio. It was vintage Rowdy—unfiltered, furious, and ready to take matters into his own hands. But it wasn’t just Hocevar’s move that had Busch seeing red.

His frustration had been building throughout the race as he was struggling with his No.8 Chevy. Over the radio, Kyle Busch didn’t hold back, “It’s like you have zero shock on this thing. It is not held onto the racetrack mechanically for the aero benefit.” With an ill-handling car and Hocevar’s aggressive driving costing him spots, Busch found himself buried in the field. At the restart of Stage 2, he found himself out of the top 20.

This wasn’t just another Atlanta struggle for Busch. The memories of his heartbreaking 2024 finish at the track were still fresh. Last year, he had fought tooth and nail in a dramatic photo finish with Daniel Suarez and Ryan Blaney just to come third. That loss had stung, and now, instead of redemption, he was battling just to stay in contention. Atlanta had gone from a place of triumph to a source of frustration for him.

Apart from that race, 2024 was entirely a forgettable year for Kyle Busch. He failed to win a single race, missed the playoffs, and posted career-worst numbers in nearly every statistical category. The 2024 season was the first time in his 19-year Cup career that he went winless. He finished with just 10 top-ten finishes and eight DNFs, a shocking drop for someone who has been a dominant force for so long. Despite such a number, Busch has some backing as Dale Earnhardt Jr. expects a comeback from him.

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Dale Jr. rallies behind Busch!

While some might question whether Kyle Busch can bounce back after his struggles in 2024, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has no doubts. The NASCAR Hall of Famer believes Busch’s competitive nature will drive him back to the top. In a recent episode of his Dale Jr. Download podcast, former Hendrick Motorsports driver revealed that he feels Busch will be the most motivated driver on the track.

“I just can never count out Kyle Busch, you just can’t. He has to be the most motivated guy out there. He does not like losing, and he certainly doesn’t like breaking streaks. To go winless last year…I think he feels like he’s gotta prove it all over again. So, he’s going to be super determined,” said Dale Jr. Junior also pointed to Busch’s current situation at Richard Childress Racing.

“I would think Richard Childress Racing gets the two wins needed,” he said. However, Dale Jr. further admitted that Busch is in the twilight of his career. He believes Busch is entering a critical phase of his career. At 38 years old, he still has time left at the top, but Dale Jr. admits that the window for dominance is closing. “He’s got 2-5 years before the decline—it is evident.” That makes 2025 a crucial year. And so far he’s crashed out at Daytona and mired in traffic at Atlanta, certainly not the best way to kick start a new year.