“Can’t say we never had an opportunity to but obviously didn’t get it done,” said Kyle Busch about a 2024 season to forget. Fans certainly won’t be forgetting a year that had Busch not winning a single race in 19 years. Yet it seems there is some hope for Rowdy.

Kyle Busch may have a shot at redemption in 2025, and the stats prove it. All one has to do is look back at another streak a different RCR driver was on, Dale Earnhardt Sr.

Will the fresh season end the No. 8 Chevy driver’s unlucky streak?

The last time Kyle Busch won was on June 4th, when he succeeded at the Enjoy Illinois 300 at the World Technology Center. However, since then, there has been a massive dip in his performance and the No.8 driver has painted some unimpressive statistics that do not likely match his driving aura. Consequently, while he could have made it to the victory line at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, he did not quite make it after he grabbed a third-place finish after Daniel Suarez took the win by the barest of margins. 

Consequently, Rowdy was unable to win at two other close encounters at Daytona International Speedway and Darlington Raceway, finishing as the runner-up. In the last lap of the 2024 Coke Zero Sugar 400, Harrison Burton made a decisive move to take the lead, while at the 2024 Cook Out Southern 500, Chase Briscoe successfully defended his position, securing the last spot in the postseason. These close encounters left him short of a win in 2024, also marking his first season in 19 years that went winless.

Given the way 2024 ended for Busch, one might think 2025 will be a difficult season for Rowdy to come back and dominate. However, there is still hope, and it comes from within Richard Childress Racing. Another one of their drivers faced a similar streak before turning around his fortune. It was none other than 7-time Champion Dale Earnhardt Sr.

In 1996, Dale Earnhardt Sr achieved a momentous victory at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. While his charisma on the tracks was much talked about, what happened next was similar to Kyle Busch’s situation. Earnhardt Sr. kept on losing, and each of these seemed to be close calls. While most fans would have thought this was a one-off situation, there was a deeper problem. Earnhardt Sr ended up embarking on a more than 50-race losing streak. It was in the Daytona 500 that this winless streak came to an end. 

Pointing out the same, Peter Stratta shared, “1996: Dale Earnhardt won in Atlanta, went on a 50+ race losing streak (59) until winning the 1998 Daytona 500.2023: Kyle Busch won at Gateway, and has been winless in the last 57 races. Can history repeat itself? #NASCAR”. 

For Kyle Busch, winning at Dayton can turn around the disastrous 2024 season. It was one marred by inconsistency, preventing him from earning enough points to qualify for the playoffs. For the first time since 2012, Rowdy failed to make the postseason. This unfortunate streak marked his most disappointing Cup Series performance in over a decade. Adding to his struggles, five early exits from races contributed to a 20th-place finish overall, tying his career-worst result in NASCAR’s premier series. The question now is whether Kyle Busch can overcome these challenges and reclaim his winning form in the seasons to come and embark on an ending just like Dale Earnhardt Sr.

Richard Childress makes a new announcement about the Cup Series 

Trending

HMS Legend’s Demise Has Emotional Jeff Gordon Echoing Rick Hendrick’s Humble Admission

Tony Stewart’s Failure to Escape NASCAR With Nearly $50 Million Profit Exposed

“Good Riddance”: $3.5 Billion Partner Could Cut Off Backing to Rick Hendrick, Claim NASCAR Fans

Dale Jr’s Iconic Return With $101 Billion Partner, Outshines Kyle Larson & Chase Elliott

NASCAR Surrenders to Michael Jordan & Denny Hamlin as $50M SHR Roadblock Crumbles

It’s not just Kyle Busch who has struggled in 2024. Richard Childress Racing has fared no better either. The only win the team had was Austin Dillon’s controversial finish at Richmond, during which he took out two drivers on the track. It meant the win wouldn’t contribute towards the playoffs.

The entire team is under worry, and there are changes for the upcoming season. RCR has planned to field a third Cup car part-time, instead of a full-time car. This will be done with the help of a well-distributed roster that will have every driver divided into races. While there are no official announcements about the car number, it is speculated that it will be the No.33 car. They already have reinforcements 

Taking to X, Bob Pockrass posted, “RCR announces it will run a third Cup team for multiple races w/multiple drivers. Andy Street, who was crew chief for Austin Hill, will crew chief . Chad Haney, who was at RCR helping with alliances, will crew chief Austin Hill. Danny Stockman remains Jesse Love crew chief.” There is also the potential for a Supercars driver to make an appearance with the team for the road courses. 

Will Brown’s NASCAR Cup Series debut at Sonoma was a significant moment in his career. Driving the #33 car, he showcased his potential with a promising start from the 24th position. Unfortunately, his race was hampered by electrical issues, leading to a 31st-place finish. Despite the setback, his performance in qualifying and his ability to compete on a challenging road course hinted at his capabilities and future promise in the series.