When Jimmie Johnson once said, “The Daytona 500 is a career-winning race. It defines careers for drivers,” he wasn’t exaggerating. Winning at Daytona isn’t just about adding another trophy to the cabinet, it’s about cementing a legacy. Legends like Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, and Jeff Gordon all have their names etched in history because of their success in the ‘Great American Race.’ For many NASCAR’s elite, winning at Daytona is the ultimate validation of their greatness.

However, things are pretty different for Kyle Busch. Rowdy has achieved nearly everything a driver can dream of in NASCAR. He is a two-time Cup Series champion with 63 Cup Series wins and has conquered the sport’s biggest events like the Coca-Cola 600, Southern 500, and the All-Star Race. But despite all his accomplishments, one trophy still eludes him, i.e. the Harley J. Earl Trophy. Year after year, Kyle has tried and failed to capture a Daytona 500 victory, making this race a painful blemish on an otherwise legendary career.

Adding to his pain is his older brother, Kurt Busch. Notably, in 2017, Kurt won the Daytona 500 while driving for Stewart-Haas Racing. And despite Kyle’s superior overall record, his older brother doesn’t let him forget it. However, as the 2025 NASCAR season approaches, Kyle has downplayed Kurt’s achievement with a blunt response.

Kyle Busch downplays his brother’s achievement!

Kyle Busch is the most successful active driver in NASCAR. With more than 200 race wins across the top three national leagues, he has established himself as one of the legends of the sport. Yet, for years, his older brother Kurt has held one distinct advantage over his younger brother. He often teases Kyle with his cheeky remarks about the same. However, ahead of the 2025 season, Kyle has downplayed Kurt’s Daytona success by flexing his superior achievements.

“I have a lot more cooler trophies. He doesn’t have a Driller either… Championships and All Star wins, (Coca-Cola) 600’s, Southern 500’s, all that stuff is really, really cool. I’ve got all of those, so to be able to add to that with going to Victory Lane at Daytona for the 500 would be pretty awesome,” Kyle told media at Bowman Gray.

While Kurt has the bragging rights at Daytona, Kyle has outperformed him in nearly every other area. He has two Cup Series championships compared to Kurt’s one and almost double the number of wins. Rowdy has dominated across all three national series, breaking records and solidifying himself as one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history. But as much as he tries to brush it off, the missing Daytona 500 win still lingers in his mind.

Notably, Kyle Busch has come painfully close to winning the Daytona 500 multiple times. In 2007, he was in contention but crashed on the last lap, while in 2008, he got stuck behind cars in the draft. He finished third in 2016 and came closest in 2019, finishing runner-up to Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin. Despite his frustrations, Kyle remains confident heading into the 2025 season.

“Austin hit on it there where I feel like since joining RCR, with ECR, we’ve had really good opportunities to win speedway races. We won Talladega, but we’ve been in a position to win a heck of a lot more than we have. So, having more opportunities to be in a position to win, eventually, you should be able to take home that trophy,” Kyle Busch expressed confidence in the RCR program.

Notably, RCR is making a great effort in its preparations. The team recently released a six-part mini-series showcasing their efforts to get ready for the 2025 Daytona 500. Kyle Busch, Austin Dillon, Jesse Love, and Austin Hill are all set to give it their best shot. However, for Busch, this isn’t just another race but a chance to erase a long-standing failure and finally silence his brother’s taunts.

Busch’s blunt response to new OEP Rule

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As Kyle Busch focuses on his Daytona 500 pursuit, a new NASCAR rule has stirred up discussions in the garage. The introduction of the Open Exemption Provisional (OEP) guarantees a spot for world-class drivers from other disciplines in select races. This means that even if they fail to qualify on speed, they can still start the race. However, this rule didn’t allow NASCAR legends to avail the benefits.

While many NASCAR drivers like Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott had questioned the rule, Kyle Busch had mixed feelings. While he acknowledged its potential benefits, he wasn’t entirely sold on it. “I think it’s a unique ruling or statute that could benefit the sport as a whole. It just kind of depends on how it’s used. I’m still a little fuzzy on all of the details of it,” Busch said. He further pointed out the financial benefits of the rule.

“I think there’s a money factor there too. I think that’s fine. It’s literally just to bring eyeballs to our sport, they’re fans, they’re demographic of where they come from and whether they’re from a different country, which Castroneves is, maybe makes some fans,” Busch added. Busch’s comments align with NASCAR’s aim to attract new audiences to the sport. However, as full-time NASCAR drivers cannot use the exemption, Busch and others must still qualify the traditional way. Do you think that 2025 Daytona 500 could be Rowdy’s year?