In his first year with Richard Childress Racing, Kyle Busch had three race wins, which got the fans’ hopes up about a potential title-contending run in 2024. But, in reality, the season turned out to be a dark spot in what has been an illustrious NASCAR racing career. All he had was a couple of runner-up finishes to show for his efforts and ended the season 20th in the points standings.

This was his worst-ever overall performance, tying with his debut season back in 2005. However, the only difference in 2024 was that he wasn’t even able to win a single race. Rowdy was the NASCAR record holder for having at least one win every season consecutively for 19 years, but he couldn’t make it 20. And this dismal showing by Busch overall has led to some doubt about his ability to win races. However, no one expected MRN’s veteran journalist Doug Rice to make a bold prediction about Kyle Busch’s racing career.

Will Kyle Busch win a NASCAR race at RCR?

It’s no secret that Busch has found the grass to be greener on RCR’s side after parting ways with Joe Gibbs Racing. For a driver who was in his prime year with a team where he achieved his most success, he would’ve liked to retire there, But with M&M’s pulling the plug on their sponsorship, the driver was forced to find a new home, and he landed at RCR.

Gone are those days when RCR would contend for championships and wins during the reign of Dale Earnhardt. In fact, newcomers like Trackhouse Racing and Spire Motorsports have shown more promise than RCR. So, it wasn’t the best possible choice for Kyle Busch to spend his last few prime years, but he had to accept his fate. However, will this decision prove a deciding one that closes the door for Rowdy to compete for a win? Well, Doug Rice from MRN thinks so.

Danielle Trotta was the one who revealed the story while speaking with Larry McReynolds on the SiriusXM NASCAR Radio show. “I was asked to be a guest on Pier and Fast Talk with Doug Rice and Brad Gilly the other day. Doug was throwing out a prediction; Doug Rice threw out there that he doesn’t think Kyle Busch will ever win again. I was like, wow, I am not ready to say that… I mean, that’s a hot take but a lot of people are wondering can Kyle Busch ever become the Kyle Busch of old again. I certainly hope.”

Well, it is indeed hard to see the old Rowdy make a comeback, especially with parity racing now taking center stage. But when you see the likes of Austin Dillon, Harrison Burton, and Chase Briscoe getting wins in 2024, you wonder if Rice’s take was more like a doomsday scenario. And McReynolds himself couldn’t agree to that. “I don’t think he will become the Kyle Busch of old. I think that ship has sailed, but I’m like you, I’m not ready to say we won’t see him back in victory lane.”

Let’s put it this way: RCR wasn’t able to provide their star driver with consistent race speeds. And when they did crack the code, they were either at odds with luck or trying too hard to convert those results. Busch himself agreed to this in the latest interview with Racer.com.

Missed opportunities certainly made the 2024 season look worse for Busch and RCR

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 that Kyle Busch never got the opportunity to be in a spot where he could win a race this year. To be precise, there were three golden opportunities where he could’ve extended his streak to the 20th year. The race in Kansas was perhaps the clear-cut case of Rowdy forcing the issue without any threats from his rivals.

With 35 laps to go, he tried to thread the needle against Chase Briscoe, who was a lap down, and he failed miserably. Unable to check up after the blocks made by the #14 car, Busch crashed into the wall and gave up a golden opportunity to win the race. This was during the playoffs. Busch spoke to NBC Sports after the race, saying, “The 14 turned down the hill in order to get clean air from the guy in front of him. So I went to his outside to plug the hole and just, air. For some reason, just felt nothing off the corner and hadn’t really had that like that the whole time. … Busted my bu–.”

Next, we have his encounter again with Briscoe, this time at Darlington, which was a cutoff race ahead of the playoffs.

Well, this time around the pace of the #14 car was too good for Busch. Had there been a late caution, the story would’ve been different. But it goes to show how Kyle Busch couldn’t catch a good break. In the fall race at Daytona, he didn’t have the support he needed to close out the race, and a late race run by Harrison Burton snatched a win from Busch’s hands.

Reflecting on the missed opportunities, Busch said, “Even having a shot to win late in the day; being close at Daytona, and maybe even closer at Kansas, and not being able to pull through. We probably had a handful of opportunities that slipped out from under us. So [I] can’t say we never had an opportunity to, but obviously didn’t get it done.”

If anything, Rowdy showed us that he can still compete for wins despite being stacked against the odds. While things went against him and the #8 team this year, they have an opportunity to script a massive comeback, which the fans will anticipate in 2025.