Kyle Busch, once celebrated for his assertive driving style in the NASCAR Cup Series, faces ongoing difficulties as the Next Gen car era continues, with Kevin Harvick offering a candid perspective on Busch‘s declining results. Kevin Harvick on Kyle Busch struggles has become a focal point in NASCAR discussions, as many question how one of the sport’s iconic drivers has missed the playoffs for a second consecutive season.
Busch’s Declining Performance Amid Next Gen Challenges
Competing for Richard Childress Racing, Busch has not secured a victory since his win at Gateway in June 2023 and has only managed four total wins since the introduction of the Gen-7 car. His performance this season highlights the struggle: just two top-five finishes and eight top-10 finishes so far, a stark difference for a driver with two Cup titles to his name. The aggressive attitude that once propelled Busch to success is now contributing to costly errors and decreased results.
According to Harvick, the move to a more uniform, Next Gen vehicle design has left drivers like Busch disadvantaged. The new regulations limit the amount of setup adjustments drivers can make, removing much of the technical flexibility that previously allowed Busch to maximize his strengths.
Harvick’s Take on Busch’s Adaptation Struggles
Kevin Harvick weighed in on Busch’s situation during his Happy Hour podcast, emphasizing how the sport’s move to Gen-7 machinery has transformed driving strategies. Notably, Harvick believes the root of Busch’s difficulty lies in his inability to adapt his once-dominant approach to the current era.
“I think this car has totally disrupted everything that has made Kyle Busch good,”
—Kevin Harvick, Former NASCAR Cup Series Champion
In previous generations, Busch’s technical expertise provided an edge. He could fine-tune the car settings—everything from springs to shocks—to his liking, allowing him to push boundaries with precision and still recover from overdriving. Today, however, the standardized platform leaves little room for drivers to customize cars to suit their style.
“Everything that made Kyle Busch good up until this Gen-7 car was the fact that he could drive it over the limit, save the car and he could tell you every single thing that you needed to put in the car to make it go fast. He knew the springs, he knew the shocks, he knew everything that was going on, not gonna happen in Gen-7 racing.”
—Kevin Harvick, Former NASCAR Cup Series Champion
Instinct Versus Reality in the Next Gen Car
Busch’s intense desire to win, combined with deep technical knowledge, served him well when conditions allowed for driver-driven setup changes. The Next Gen car, however, removes those levers. Harvick observed that Busch’s persistence to win and the pressure from fans and teams may actually backfire under these conditions.
Harvick remarked on how Busch’s trademark aggression, once an asset, now leads him to take excessive risks. In the current environment, if he pushes the car too far, there is no way to recover—the very trait that once set him apart now undermines his chances.
The Road Ahead: Can Aggression Be Tamed?
The core question remains whether Kyle Busch, after building a career on aggressive driving and car management, can adjust to regulations that reduce the difference a driver can make. Kevin Harvick suggests that Busch must find a new approach if he is to reclaim his status among the sport’s elite. With the playoff drought lingering and the new generation of cars continuing to challenge traditional driving methods, Busch faces a pivotal moment in his racing trajectory.
As the NASCAR Cup Series season progresses, the sport will watch closely to see if Busch can adapt his strategies and if the changes in car design will permanently alter the competitive landscape for aggressive racers like him. The evolution of the Gen-7 car continues to test even the most seasoned drivers, and the outcome may redefine what it takes to win in modern NASCAR.
