Kyle Busch had a strong start at the Chicago Street Race, but things didn’t go as planned. A tire problem and a mid-race spin dropped him down the field, but he managed to climb back and earn a top-five result. While the finish matched his best this year, the day highlighted deeper struggles with the car. He spoke honestly about the problems his team faces and what needs to change if he hopes to make the playoffs.
Key Highlights
Kyle Busch spun out on Lap 34 due to a lack of rear grip
He finished fifth after recovering from a mid-race penalty
The result moved him up to 16th in the points standings
Kyle Busch has gone 76 races without a win
His team faces mounting pressure to make the 2025 playoffs
Grip Trouble and Early Setback
Kyle Busch came out swinging at the Grant Park 165, moving into the top three early and even reaching second by the end of Stage 1. But the car’s performance changed after the team tried to extend its first tire stint. With the surface getting slicker and his tires fading, Kyle Busch couldn’t hold on. On Lap 34, his No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet spun entering Turn 7.
“We got a good jump on the initial start there and was able to roll forward and get to third. We tried to go long on that first set of tires, and with those couple of cautions, it didn’t fall into our favor. That put us on old tires and I spun out getting into (turn) seven. We just didn’t have any left-rear grip. That’s something we’ve struggled with on this car, and it just bit me there.” – Kyle Busch
That wasn’t the end of his problems. During a pit stop, Kyle Busch cut through too many pit boxes, earning a penalty that dropped him to 31st at the end of Stage 2. Still, the two-time Cup champion showed resilience. He clawed his way back into the top five by the finish, his first top-five since Las Vegas.
A Crucial Top-Five in a Tough Season
The finish came at a critical time. With the regular season winding down, every point counts. The fifth-place run moved Kyle Busch up four spots in the Cup Series standings, now sitting 16th. He remains winless in 2025, and the playoff cutoff line still sits 59 points ahead.
Although Shane van Gisbergen won again and took the spotlight, Kyle Busch’s quiet comeback served as a small reminder that the veteran still has fight left. He matched Shane van Gisbergen’s accomplishment by grabbing a top-five despite early setbacks—something not many others in the field managed to do.
But the bigger picture still shows trouble for the Richard Childress Racing driver. After his last win in June 2023, the 40-year-old has now gone 76 races without a trip to victory lane. Once considered a weekly favorite, Kyle Busch has struggled to even crack the top 10 this season, let alone contend for wins.
Kyle Busch Urges Accountability Across His Team
Before the race weekend began in Chicago, Kyle Busch spoke bluntly about his team’s performance. With just seven races left before the playoffs, he stressed the need for execution across every level. Speaking to reporters after Atlanta, he said it all comes down to each team member doing their job.
“I think it just boils down to all of us on our team being accountable. Pit crew, myself, (crew chief) Randall (Burnett), engineers, everybody and being able to do what we know how to do and what we’re paid to do and that’s to execute.” – Kyle Busch.
Despite the strong words, his result at EchoPark Speedway (formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway) didn’t meet the mark. He finished just outside the top 20, while Brad Keselowski finished second and eliminated him from the In-Season Challenge Round 1 bracket.
The difference between Kyle Busch’s career highs and current form remains wide. His average finish this season is 17th, and the lack of consistency has put his playoff hopes in serious danger.
Looking Ahead as Pressure Builds
With only a few races left in the regular season, the pressure continues to grow. Kyle Busch may have the experience and grit, but the results haven’t followed. His team has lacked speed on most ovals and struggled with tire wear on road and street courses. If things don’t improve fast, missing the playoffs for a second straight year could become reality.
Still, Kyle Busch’s fifth-place finish at Chicago offered a glimpse of what’s possible. It wasn’t clean or perfect, but it showed fight—and perhaps that’s what his team needs most as they face the most critical stretch of the year.
News in Brief: Kyle Busch Sends Message to His Team
Kyle Busch fought through grip issues and a pit penalty to finish fifth in the Chicago Street Race, tying his best finish of the 2025 season. He gained four positions in the Cup standings but remains 59 points below the playoff cutoff. His last win came in June 2023, and he now faces a seven-race push to avoid missing the playoffs again. Kyle Busch urged accountability from his entire team and emphasized execution as the path forward.
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