Kyle Busch, a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, has once again voiced his frustrations regarding how officials have overlooked his advice regarding the Gen 7 car’s performance on superspeedways, particularly at Talladega. With 63 Cup wins and over two decades of experience in the sport, one might expect NASCAR officials to take his suggestions seriously. However, during a recent press conference on Saturday, Busch highlighted the persistent problem of his insights falling “in one ear and out the other.”
Speaking candidly about the car’s performance, Busch stated, “It drives OK. Ever since they came up with the rear end rules that keep the tires on the racetrack and the teams aren’t going crazy on different setup things to try to get the back of the car down, it seems to drive fine.” He emphasized the race’s cadence, noting that it’s lacking: “It’s just not very fun. It’s really hard to get runs or any sort of separation, especially with the fuel savings and all that sort of stuff.” Busch expressed his dissatisfaction with how difficult it is to pass, claiming, “Shorter time on pit road is how you pass guys. Like that’s no fun. So there’s definitely an issue in that.”
This isn’t the first instance in 2025 where Busch has expressed his worries about being ignored. Earlier in March, at Circuit of the Americas, he commented on a newly formed Playoff Committee responsible for discussing potential changes to the playoff format for the 2026 season. Despite being a prominent driver, he lamented, “I guess there are five or six or eight or ten — I don’t even know how many committees there are, but nobody calls me to be on any of them. So, I feel real honored with that and look forward to hearing what their changes are.”
As the Cup Series gears up for the race on Sunday at Talladega, where coverage begins at 3 p.m. ET on Fox, Busch’s comments reveal a critical divide between NASCAR and its veteran drivers. His ongoing struggles to have his voice heard may lead to broader concerns about communication and responsiveness within the organization. The implications of this disconnect could fuel further tension as the sport navigates these pivotal changes, potentially affecting both driver performance and fan engagement. With Busch’s track record, the hope is that his expertise will not continue to be overlooked.
