Kyle Busch isn’t hitting the brakes on his racing schedule for this season just yet. After a disappointing NASCAR Cup Series run in 2024, the RCR driver is looking to enter a new domain. For the first time in his racing career, Kyle Busch will be competing at the biggest dirt race of the year at ‘Chili Bowl Nationals’ in January 2025.

Yeah, you heard it right, Rowdy will be hoping inside a midget car and competing at the Super Bowl of Midget racing. This is indeed a surprise given that Busch many a time had downplayed the idea of racing at this mega event in the past. “No, I’m too big; I’m a 200-pound man like you come here with no weight rule and you have to build a bigger car. And all that stuff you can’t keep up with those lightweight kids.” But something changed this year that encouraged him to take on the challenge.

Kyle Busch has found his mojo for competing on dirt tracks

You might have seen Rowdy on the road with his son Brexton on his racing schedule apart from NASCAR racing. He did compete in a handful of races himself alongside his son. And while it looked like casual racing, in reality, Busch was preparing for the big event. Of course, the dirt track and the midget cars aren’t his strong suits, but that didn’t keep him from attempting a debut run at the 30th Chili Bowl Midget Nationals.

Sharing the reason behind his change of heart and entering midget racing, Kyle Busch while speaking to Flo Racing said, “I feel the biggest reason right now I have changed my mind is having more experience and being on the dirt. Knowing what to expect being on the dirt. So for years I’ve really never raced open-wheel cars, never ran sprint cars, midgets, micros or stuff like that. So to have my feet wet a little bit more with some non-winged micros, I feel that gives you a better sense of what these vehicles will do.”

What is even more exciting is that the fans at Tulsa Expo Center might witness the battle of Kyle’s on the dirt track as opposed to the usual oval setting. Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson is a two-time Chili Bowl National champion, and the prospect of Busch and Larson competing in the same event is indeed exciting news for the race fans. Apart from Larson and Busch, the likes of Christopher Bell and Tony Stewart have also participated in the historic race.

The good thing for Kyle Busch is that he will be able to prepare himself for the mega event with a few races scheduled at the end of 2024. Busch will compete at the USAC Nationals Midget events at Bakersfield Speedway on November 26 and Ventura Raceway on November 30th. As far as expectations go, Rowdy isn’t shooting for the title, but rather he’s focused on taking one step at a time.

Rowdy is hoping to make the A-mains

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The Chili Bowl is indeed a huge event where the drivers have to get through the heats and qualifiers and then advance to the main events. Even two-time champ Kyle Larson had a hard time getting through the preliminary stages and qualifying for the main event this year. During the heat races, Larson tried to force the issue by driving the No. 98 midget car in battling with Christopher Townsend, but the two made contact, which resulted in both drivers flipping their race cars. Although Larson was able to continue, but his finish wasn’t enough to land him a spot at the finale event.

Although Kyle Busch has years of racing experience, he knows he’s on a different playground, and he will have to learn the tricks of the trade rather than hoping for the glory in his debut attempt. “I would say you would have to go in with open expectations. I mean, there’s no way you’re gonna say I’m gonna make the A-main and win the A-main. The competition level and all of that is just so high. I’d say you go with an open mind and shoot for a C-main or B-main and maybe get yourself to A-main,” Busch explained.

Needless to say, all the attention and eyes will be on Busch when he hops into his race car at Chili Bowl Nationals. Therefore, it will be interesting to see how well he performs under pressure in his debut attempt with the midget car.