Every NASCAR driver has their own way of snapping out of a slump. Jimmie Johnson turned to endurance sports and IndyCar to reignite his competitive edge after his Cup Series career plateaued. He took to competing in Ironman races and later racing full-time in IndyCar with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2022.

Kevin Harvick, known for his methodical approach, leaned heavily on long-distance cycling to maintain physical and mental stamina, even sharing his training on social media and during interviews. And Denny Hamlin? He’s found his reset in breaking down his performances and mindset weekly on his Actions Detrimental podcast.

Everyone’s got a code. For Kyle Busch, it’s dirt, family, and the raw chaos of short-track racing.

Kyle Busch’s struggles in the NASCAR Cup Series have continued into 2025, following his winless 2024 season – the first in his 19-year career. His average finish of 18.3 last year marked his worst since his rookie season in 2005, and despite early optimism at tracks like Phoenix and COTA, Busch has yet to find victory lane this season.

The upcoming Bristol race also poses a critical challenge. While Busch has historically shown flashes of brilliance on the half-mile bullring, his recent form tells a different story. Since 2022, he’s run four Bristol races with zero wins and an average finish of 26th. It’s a stat line that’s far from Rowdy’s standard. Frustrated by his prolonged slump, Busch has turned to dirt racing as a way to sharpen his skills and rediscover his competitive edge. “Back out here gettin dirty,” he wrote in a post on X.

Busch’s dirt racing ventures in 2025 have included high-profile events like the Chili Bowl Nationals and the Tulsa Shootout. At the Chili Bowl, he earned 118 passing points in his heat race but struggled in the qualifier, ultimately finishing 15th in the E-Main. While the results weren’t stellar, the experience provided valuable lessons in car control and adaptability. These are skills that could translate to NASCAR’s short tracks like Bristol. And to an extent, it has offered some relief on the Cup Series front. Rowdy has only two finishes outside of the top 20 this season, and if improvement continues, he could be on for a win this year.

However, it’s not that dirt racing is practising for the Cup race on Sunday. As Busch has admitted in the past, “It doesn’t do anything for our race or anything like that for Sunday. It doesn’t give you any prep or nothing. You know, it’s just out here to have fun, let loose, get in the seat, get the heart rate up, that sort of stuff.” 

Busch also participated in the ‘Battle of the Busch‘ where he raced head-to-head with Brexton. Though Brexton challenged him, Kyle’s competitive spirit shone through as he continued to push himself on unfamiliar terrain. In the 600cc Winged Micros class event at Millbridge, Kyle managed to finish in third position. These events have reignited Busch’s drive to improve and adapt.

Recently, Kyle Busch shared a video of himself navigating a dirt track, sparking excitement on social media. Fans are eager to see if these grassroots experiences will help Rowdy reclaim his Cup Series dominance.

Fans are all in on Rowdy’s dirt revival, but expectations remain

Kyle Busch’s recent dirt track clips have fans buzzing. And they’re not shy about voicing their opinions. One fan simply put it. “You do your thing, Champ.” Another echoed the vibe, commenting, “Getting nasty. Sweet clip. Glad you’re having fun.” It’s a noticeable shift in tone, with fans showing support for Busch’s back-to-basics mantra. It’s not the first time Busch has set himself to master the basics before getting into a Cup car. Fans will remember Rowdy jumping into NASCAR Trucks often.

Some fans, however, want to see him push the envelope. “Please run a 410 sprint car race someday 🙏” was one request that gained traction. But don’t hold your breath. Busch’s wife, Samantha, isn’t on board with the idea. In a previous interview, she revealed that, “It’s not happening. No! I draw the line somewhere. They are so dangerous,” since the 410 sprint cars are known for their high risk and high speeds. With the lack of rollover protection, it’s no wonder Samantha doesn’t want her husband racing in them.

Brexton Busch hasn’t gone unnoticed either. “Brexton burning those laps?” one fan asked. The younger Busch has been tearing it up in 2025’s junior dirt racing scene, already racking up a few heat wins in restricted micro sprint divisions. At just nine years old, his track awareness is turning heads — and it’s clear Kyle enjoys sharing the grind with his son. However, it might not be Brexton in the car in the video Rowdy posted. As fans might know, Brexton favors a green livery on his car.

Of course, not every comment was about having fun. One fan cut right to the chase: “I much rather prefer you get back into the winners circle @ItsBristolBaby this Sunday!” That’s the tension Busch rides, enjoying his dirt detour while still chasing Cup Series redemption. For some, it might be odd to see fans wanting NASCAR’s old villain to go back to the victory lane, but such is the impact Rowdy has had.

Bristol could be where both worlds collide. Whether Kyle Busch can translate dirt track hustle into NASCAR glory, we find out this Sunday.