Kyle Busch is a man on a mission. The Richard Childress Racing driver is hungrier than ever to break his 63-race winless streak, but standing in his way is Martinsville Speedway. Ever since Rowdy left Joe Gibbs Racing in 2022, results at ‘The Paperclip’ have been hard to come by, but that’s a narrative the two-time Cup Series champ is determined to change in the upcoming 2025 Cook Out 400. That might be easier said than done, though.

As they say, ‘desperate times call for desperate measures.’ Despite a few positive performances this year, Busch is eager to get back to winning ways as soon as possible. Even if that means resorting to unconventional measures to gain an advantage. After all, what does he have to lose?

Kyle Busch is exploring all options for the Cook Out 400

Martinsville Speedway is one of the most iconic tracks on the calendar. The ‘Half Mile of Mayhem’ has been featured in the Cup Series since 1949, cementing its place as a fan-favorite over the decades. However, the short-track racing package has left much to be desired in the Next-Gen era, with overtaking opportunities hard to come by, even at a venue that is known for tight turns and close-quarter action. Denny Hamlin, a 5-time Martinsville winner, has been a vocal critic of NASCAR’s short track package with the Next-Gen car.

“You’ve made the drivers the same, you’ve made the cars the same, and now everyone runs the same speed. But now what? These are the unintended consequences you have with parity… Until you make a horsepower or tire or shifting change, you will have the same result,” Hamlin said in 2024. His comments are echoed by Busch’s struggles. The last time Rowdy won a race at the short track was back in October 2017, when he led 184 laps, finishing second in Stages 1 and 2. Results have been hard to come by recently for Busch, especially in the Next Gen era.

Kyle Busch has failed to finish inside the top 10 at Martinsville in his last six appearances, and now he’s willing to try something different. Speaking to Frontstretch’s Stephen Stumpf, Rowdy said, “I would say the four times I’ve been here in an RCR car, we haven’t been very good at all. Let’s just try something entirely different. Completely out of left field. I think we actually have something from what [#3 crew chief Richard] Boswell brought to the team from last year with their SHR Ford cars.”

Even though Stewart-Haas Racing is now defunct, the team saw a few positive results at Martinsville Speedway last year. Driving the No. 22 Ford, Ryan Preece finished ninth at the 2024 Cook Out 400, closely followed by teammate Chase Briscoe, who ended up 10th. In the same race, Busch was forced to settle for a 16th spot while Austin Dillon ended up 34th. Taking these factors into account, crew chief Richard Boswell might have a few tricks up his sleeve to salvage a result.

Austin Dillon finished seventh in last year’s Xfinity 500 at Martinsville, and it is expected to go for a similar setup. Weighing in about his teammate’s performance and preparation for the upcoming race, Kyle Busch said, “Yeah, I think Austin kind of is based off of what he felt comfortable with here last year. In the fall. He ran pretty strong, had a competitive race. He felt good about it.” However, Busch will be going for a completely different set up, as his RCR #8 Chevrolet finished 28th at the Xfinity 500 last year.

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Busch highlights the importance of pit strategy at Martinsville

Kyle Busch has his work cut out for him. Having qualified 12th at the 2025 Cook Out 400, the Richard Childress Racing driver will need to work smart and hard to make up grid positions. Getting those valuable stage points and remaining in contention will give him a good chance to snatch a potential victory. Recognizing that the pit road might prove to be the difference maker, Rowdy and Randall Burnett are leaving no stone unturned to make sure they have a strategy in place going into Martinsville Speedway.

Sharing the importance of strategy, Busch said, “Pit road is very important. Whether you’re speeding on pit road or whether your pit crew has a misstep. It can be very costly. Especially with how hard it is to pass on the racetrack. Losing one or two or three spots on the racetrack might not sound like a lot, but it’s a big deal when you get out there.”

On a track where overtaking opportunities are hard to come by, the pit road can make or break the race. That’s what Kyle Busch is focused on going into the race in Martinsville. This might be the toughest time in the veteran racer’s career, with many already calling for an early retirement. However, the two-time championship winner isn’t planning to go down without a fight. Will the No. 8 Chevy driver manage to overcome his longstanding winless streak this time around? Or will his bad luck in the Cup Series continue? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!