Kurt Busch supports WRC in America, expressing his enthusiasm for the World Rally Championship’s potential to connect with U.S. fans after experiencing the excitement of Rally Finland this year. Busch, a celebrated NASCAR champion and Daytona 500 winner, was impressed by the unique nature of rally racing, fueling his belief that the sport could thrive on American soil.
Busch’s Introduction to World Rally Championship at Rally Finland
Making his debut at a World Rally Championship event, Kurt Busch traveled to Finland to witness the rally spectacle first-hand. Known for his success as the 2004 NASCAR Cup Series champion and 2017 Daytona 500 victor, the 46-year-old has long admired the rally scene. In 2014, he even competed at the Monza Rally Show, piloting an M-Sport-prepared Ford Fiesta RS WRC.
Busch’s recent trip to Finland enabled him to truly experience the thrill of top-tier rallying. On Thursday, he joined Oliver Solberg, fresh from winning Rally Estonia, for a high-speed ride in Solberg’s Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 during shakedown.
“For me, it took me back to when I ran the Monza Rally Show 10 years ago. To experience it [the WRC] first class with Oliver Solberg on an actual WRC rally,”
—Kurt Busch, NASCAR Champion
During the ride, Busch observed how the car’s nimble handling and ability to glide over rough terrain contrasted with heavier, track-anchored NASCAR vehicles. While he described gripping corners at speed and unpredictable jumps as challenging, he admired Solberg’s command of the car and the intense skill required to compete at this level.
“For sure, our NASCAR discipline is very different. It is a lot about tyre management and getting the grip level on the asphalt. This is all-wheel drive, lightweight, and go as fast as you can go while the tree branches are hitting the windshield. It is a whole different discipline, but it is fun to see it at the top level.”
—Kurt Busch, NASCAR Champion
Comparison of Racing Styles Fuels Busch’s Enthusiasm
Busch noted the stark differences between NASCAR’s heavy, asphalt-focused competition and the dynamic nature of WRC rally cars. He described how rally cars seem to float above the surface, reacting rapidly to twists, jumps, and switchbacks, while NASCAR vehicles require managing grip and tire wear over long races. Despite these differences, Busch expressed admiration for the technical difficulty and spectacle of rally racing, suggesting that the challenges are part of what makes the format appealing.
Delays in WRC’s Return to the United States
Coinciding with Busch’s visit, the WRC released its 2026 calendar, revealing that the anticipated debut of a World Rally Championship event in the United States will be postponed until 2027 at the earliest. This marks yet another delay, as WRC has not staged a championship round in North America since 1988. Despite this, the FIA remains committed to expanding into the American market and believes the series will eventually have a presence in the U.S.
Assessing the Appeal of Rallying for American Audiences
When asked about rally’s prospects with U.S. fans, Busch voiced his confidence that WRC could capture attention if organized effectively. He referred to how recent innovations in American motorsport, such as NASCAR’s Chicago street race and Formula 1’s expansion into city centers like Las Vegas and Miami, have attracted new spectators by bringing the excitement directly to urban areas and offering fresh experiences.
Busch emphasized that, while rally stages often require access to surrounding rural or outlying regions, with proper planning and support from both manufacturers and event organizers, a U.S.-based WRC round could combine city energy with the distinctive adventure of rally racing.
“I think anything new right now is an adventure and when you have the proper support behind it from the series and the manufacturers that are involved [it can work] if you are quite close to big town like that [Chattanooga], that is when you have the other nightlife and the ability for people to park and to get to where they need to go.”
—Kurt Busch, NASCAR Champion
Looking Ahead for WRC’s American Ambitions
While the WRC’s expansion into the U.S. has been postponed again, optimism remains high among supporters like Kurt Busch, as well as within the FIA and broader motorsports community. The growing popularity of motorsport events in American cities and the uniqueness of rally racing offer promise for the future. Industry attention now turns to 2027, when the World Rally Championship may finally bring its action-packed events to American fans, continuing to bridge the gap between rally and established motorsport traditions in North America.
