
via Getty
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA – APRIL 02: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Mars Crunchy Cookie Toyota, walks the gridduring practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway on April 02, 2022 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

via Getty
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA – APRIL 02: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Mars Crunchy Cookie Toyota, walks the gridduring practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway on April 02, 2022 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
After Denny Hamlin’s win at Richmond a few weeks ago and more recently Kyle Busch taking the checkered flag at Bristol, many would think that the season, the turnaround has begun for Joe Gibbs Racing. But Busch doesn’t think so. At least about himself and his No.18 team.
Busch took his first win of the season which also happened to be the 60th of his career overall under some extraordinarily fortunate circumstances late in the race at Bristol.
However, the race winner doesn’t feel the win says a lot about the season he’s had.
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Wow. Retweet to congratulate Kyle Busch on his win at Bristol! pic.twitter.com/1P4CkhNkYR
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) April 18, 2022
“I don’t think the win here (Sunday) really says anything about our season,” Busch said. “We all have had some vocal meetings this year with some struggles and things like that.”
“I would say realistically we’ve had a shot — take out the two speedway races, Atlanta and Daytona, there’s seven others. I’d say realistically we’ve had a shot to win two of those: Vegas and Richmond.”
As for the rest of the races, Busch said they were “literally” hovering between 15th and 20th. “We were just scrounging to get whatever we could get out of those days,” he added.
The two-time Cup Series champion said they “messed up” two of those races, and that they threw them away. He described how he was running third on the last lap at COTA but ended up spinning out, a bad day tainted with some bad luck.
“It’s just not been our typical Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota having speed every week,” Busch admitted.
Kyle Busch candidly admits his car wasn’t the fastest on the night
In his post-race interview, Kyle Busch spoke about the car he thought was the fastest on the night.
“I think the fastest car tonight was actually (Briscoe’s) car,” he said.
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However, Busch also described that once they got a few cycles and heat in his No.18 Camry’s tires, they got faster than the Richard Childress Racing driver. “We could not come back after rain delays very well. So, (Reddick) drove away from me. I couldn’t contend there,” Busch added.

USA Today via Reuters
Apr 3, 2022; Richmond, Virginia, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Busch (18) races during the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond International Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports
But despite all of this, Kyle Busch kept it as fans expect Kyle Busch to keep it. “If it’s a good show, it’s a good show,” he said.
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“I’ve won on them all, so I think I have the best say.”
Also Read: Bubba Wallace’s Spotter Finds Talladega “A Good Place To Start” Their NASCAR Turnaround
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