Daytona is a track of possibilities! Let’s hope it’s true with the two-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion, Kyle Busch. Struggling with his longest winless streak in the Cup series, Kyle Busch previously admitted that his recovery from a 2015 crash at Daytona was easier than his current mental challenges. Busch has time and again talked about how this season has been mentally challenging for him. After all, the #8 of RCR has never failed to qualify for a playoff since 2012.

The winless season of Kyle Busch has come as a shock for many. If this continues, it would break Busch’s impressive streak of 19 consecutive seasons with at least one victory. Daytona is probably the #8’s best shot, thanks to his impressive record at the track.

Will Daytona end Kyle Busch’s misery?

Busch’s stats for the 2024 season have been below average. In the 24 races, he has only managed three top 5s and seven top 10 finishes. Busch has clearly struggled with consistency and, many a time, even struggled to just finish the race. He has five DNFs this year and an average finish of 18.7, almost 19th position! It is his worst since 2005 when it was 24.9. It is hard to believe that the racer who has 63 Cup Series wins hasn’t won in the last 45 races. His last came at the Illinois 300 in 2023.

The veteran, in a recent interview with NBC Sports, talked about how difficult things have been for him. He said, “It’s tough. When you have done as well as you’ve done and the success and the accolades and everything that you have and you get ran over and beat down, all that sort of stuff, it’s hard to get yourself back up again to go back out there.” Busch has had low times in his career, but the longevity of this one is troubling him more.

He, however, knows what it takes to win at Daytona and is hoping for the best. In a recent press conference, he said, “There are 36 guys that show up and walk through the gate and at least think that they have a shot to win so they’re going to go out and prove that they can. A lot of Hail Marys are thrown and sometimes a lot of wrecks happen. You’ve got to be in the right place at the right time and hope for the best.” Yes, Busch is hopeful, RCR is hopeful, and all the fans are too. But, realistically speaking, what are his chances of winning at the track?

In a recent video, NASCAR analyst Eric Estepp spoke about how Kyle Busch has a great chance of winning at Daytona. In the chat with Estepp was another analyst, Greg Matherne, who said, “When we look at the stats it makes a certain amount of sense if we look at average running position across those 10 races in the Gen 7 car Kyle Busch has the second best average running position of anyone in the Cup Series in those uh He’s got an average running position of 13.04 um which is second only to Chase Elliott at 12.92”

Not just Greg, even Dale Earnhardt Jr spoke about Busch’s chances at Daytona. In his recent podcast episode, he warned other teams to watch out. Reiterating this, he said, “They have been good at Daytona, and so I would watch out. When they go to Daytona, if you’re wanting to be entertained, keep your eye on the car of Kyle Busch. Uh, not I mean, the dude’s going to be hellbent risk-it-all.” Although he desperately needs the win, it won’t come easy for him as the competition is fierce.

Things are going to get heated at Daytona

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While there’s one more race before the playoffs, Saturday’s race at Daytona is a crucial opportunity for many drivers to clinch a playoff berth. Five of the last seven Daytona winners, including Chris Buescher, Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Austin Dillon, Austin Cindric, and Michael McDowell. Other than this, fighting Buescher in the bubble are Bubba Wallace and Ross Chastain, equally desperate for a win. Not to forget our table toppers, especially a consistent Tyler Reddick.

Busch will also have to watch out for Denny Hamlin, who will be looking to get as many points as possible. Since he was stripped of them, thanks to the penalties he is facing. Because of his consistent success on superspeedways, Hamlin, the three-time Daytona 500 champion, is favored to win the Coke Zero Sugar 400. Another favorite for the race is Brad Keselowski.

He, too, has an excellent record on a superspeedway. Keselowski is also a Daytona victor and recently got a second-place finish at Talladega, a track that is similar to Daytona in some ways. HOwever, Busch is coming from a last-race high, where he finished 4th at the Michigan race. Hopefully, he will end his winless streak and book a playoff berth at the Daytona race. What do you think are his chances for qualifying in the 2024 playoffs? Let us know in the comments below.