Kyle Busch, the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, made his much-anticipated Chili Bowl debut this year, joining his NASCAR frenemies Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. But things aren’t going as he must have hoped.

Kyle Busch was looking for some respite entering the 2025 Chili Bowl Nationals. The 38-year-old is coming off a disappointing 2024 Cup Series run which saw him fail to win a race for the first time in 19 years. However, he was in good spirits entering the Chili Bowl, coming off a victory at Millbridge Speedway with his son Brexton Busch in 2024 and then watching the little one secure his first Golden Driller at the Tulsa Shootout.

Despite these positives, Busch’s lack of experience with midget racing and dirt racing, in general, was evident. He started well in his qualifying races but kept slipping down the track and eventually, went from 1st to 7th in the B-Main. In an interview with Frontstretch, Busch opened up on his struggles at Tulsa.

Kyle Busch reflects on Chili Bowl struggles

Busch entered the Chilli Bowl with some personal expectations, acknowledging the tough learning curve that comes with adapting to midget racing. However, his results so far have fallen short. After struggling to find his footing on the tricky dirt track, Busch finds himself relegated to the F-Main, which is a disheartening position for the veteran who had initially set his aim on at least reaching the C-Main.

Speaking candidly after his recent performance, Busch admitted the challenges he’s faced but also reflected on the experience, providing reasons as to why things didn’t go as planned. “When I was going forward, a lot more fun going forwards, So when the track had some grip earlier, we had some pretty good grip, some pretty good speed—that felt good. But the last couple times we hit the tracks, just too much wheel spin.  Not enough stick. Got to be able to grip that corner, and we just weren’t having it.” Busch told the interviewer.

The Chili Bowl, being infamous for its tight corners, requires a unique skill set that even a seasoned driver like Busch needs time to master. Busch said upon retrospection: “To be able to switch back and forth and then you’ll be able to just hit it right away. You gotta have laps on these cars and repetitions of being able to race on these tracks and bang up against the kerb a few times and understand what it does and how it works. But for me, it’s my first time doing that. I tested 150 laps or whatever, but there was no kerb—it was literally just a flat track. Completely different philosophy and concept and things that you got to do to understand how to make that work.” Implying that he needs experience to completely master this discipline.

Busch did speak about the kerbs in an interview with FloRacing earlier, where he elaborated on how the kerb size has been increasing across the week and how it was his ‘biggest worry’. It turns out that the emergence of kerbs is what led to Busch’s underwhelming performances as it is a completely different challenge to tackle in a midget car. Despite that, Busch seemed optimistic about trying out different racing ventures in 2025, as long as his son Brexton tags along.

Busch on his future plans

While Busch’s placement in the F-Main was undoubtedly a letdown, he remains optimistic about his Chili Bowl journey. Competing in such a highly specialized form of racing was never going to be an easy battle, but Busch’s willingness to step outside his comfort zone once in a while shows his true passion for the sport and his competitive spirit.

When asked whether he would run more such events in the coming year, Busch said, “We’ll see, I’m not sure. Brexton (Busch) of course runs a lot of the micro stuff and the junior sprint stuff so we’ll probably run more micro stuff than we run midgets.” The little racer seems to be the focal point of his dad’s plans outside of NASCAR as he paves his way into the racing world. For Busch, the primary focus is getting into his #8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet and seeing the checkered flag.

Busch’s honesty about his learning curve and determination to improve showcase his commitment to pushing his boundaries as a driver. For Busch, the focus is not solely on immediate results but on building a foundation for future success in midget racing with his son by his side. The 38-year-old’s participation in the Chili Bowl could inspire other drivers to take similar leaps, bridging the gap between NASCAR and dirt racing communities.

As he gears up for the F-Main, Busch knows the odds are stacked against him, but he’s not one to back down from a challenge. Whether he advances further or not, Busch’s Chili Bowl debut just goes on to show what a motorsport chameleon he is. Regardless of the final results, Kyle Busch’s journey at Tulsa has already added another fascinating chapter to his already stellar career.