Kyle Busch Claims “You’re a Nobody” Without Team’s Pit-Stop Finesse as He Reminisces JGR Heydays

Kyle Busch recorded the fastest pit stop in NASCAR history with the Joe Gibbs Racing crew back in 2022. However, things haven’t been the same since he signed with Richard Childress Racing, and now, the driver seems to be concerned over the performance of his current pit crew after their dismal display at the Pennzoil 400 in Las Vegas.

The former NASCAR champion shared candid words on the need for a top-notch pit crew in a recent pre-race press conference. Recalling his former team’s dominance in pit stops, Busch pointed out that a team is nothing if it can’t complete a pit stop in under ten seconds.

Kyle Busch claims pit-stop time is the difference maker

In 2024 alone, Kyle Busch‘s RCR squad has made multiple changes to their pit crew. But even after these modifications, the pit crew’s performance remained the same. During the presser at Phoenix, a reporter questioned the #8 driver on the role of pit crews in modern racing and how they differ from their older counterparts. In reply, the former NASCAR champion went on to recall his glory days with the JGR team, which finished the Vegas race with the first and second-fastest pit stops.

Busch stated, “I feel like the difference between first and 20th is much closer than it used to be. When I had my heyday of pit crews at JGR, we were running give the second bracket, let’s just say we were running twelve o’s [12.0 seconds], where the rest of JGR was twelve fives [12.5 seconds], and then the rest of the competition was 13 o’s. Now, literally, the whole field is, if you’re not under 10 seconds, you’re a nobody.”

He also noted that several teams have recently shortened their pit stop timings, with the majority now striving to finish in less than nine-ten seconds. Moreover, with passing on the track more difficult than ever, Busch put a special emphasis on the pit stops. But how did this whole conversation surrounding ‘pit stops’ start?

Earlier at Las Vegas, Busch incurred a costly penalty because his crew failed to notice that he had pitted the front of his car past the pit line. This eventually resulted in him finishing the race in 26th place. Similar inconsistencies from the pit crew during the Daytona 500 saw Busch end up with a loosely fitted left front wheel. After taking notice of the same, he had to slow down in order to avoid a mishap before coming into the pits again. These persisting issues with the crew have seemingly gotten on Kyle’s nerves.

While talking to the press at Phoenix, even if he didn’t say it, it’s clear Rowdy Busch misses his time with Joe Gibbs Racing, especially after witnessing their lightning-fast pit stop performances. Maybe his fans are also reminiscing about the wonderful times they had with JGR.

Kyle was fortunate to stumble upon Joe Gibbs Racing

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Kyle Busch has been one of the most successful drivers in NASCAR since 2000 and has dominated the sport for more than 20 years. In 2008, Busch joined Joe Gibbs Racing and spent little time before making an impression. In only his fourth appearance with the team, he won his first race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

His first Cup victory with Toyota kicked off an outstanding season in which he won a total of eight races, a record he matched only once in his career (in 2018). Notably, in 2009, he shattered his guitar trophy in Nashville, earning him a reputation as a sports’ rebel, despite his success.

Between 2011 and 2015, Kyle Busch amassed over two dozen victories in both Cup and Xfinity Series. Then finally, he overcame established winners like Jeff Gordon and Kevin Harvick on his way to his first NASCAR Cup Series title in 2015. He continuously won four or more Cup races every season between 2015 and 2018, but he was unable to win any championships.

At Auto Club Speedway in 2019, Busch achieved an additional landmark by winning 200 races across all three national divisions of NASCAR. Later that year, he won his second championship in the Cup Series.

Read More: Frustrated Kyle Busch Throws Shade at Richard Childress’ Crew After Repeated Pit-Road Jeopardization

The NASCAR community is holding its breath for this racing veteran to make a triumphant return to the podium. They are hoping that he and his revamped RCR pit crew will make a positive impact on Phoenix Raceway.