Kyle Busch is facing mounting difficulties in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season, as disclosed by veteran driver Kevin Harvick on the Happy Hour podcast. As Busch continues to encounter setbacks, Harvick offered his perspective on the mechanics of Busch’s struggles and how the shift to NextGen cars has impacted his performance—a key issue around the ongoing discussion of Kyle Busch 2025 Cup Series struggles.
Mixed Fortunes for Busch Since NextGen Cars Came to Cup Series
Kevin Harvick discussed Kyle Busch’s challenges since the introduction of the NextGen cars, pinpointing a marked decline in performance for the Richard Childress Racing driver. Since moving to the seventh-generation vehicles, Busch has only managed to secure four wins, missing out on the playoffs in both the 2024 and 2025 seasons. The downturn began in 2023, with a winless period stretching from his last triumph at the Enjoy Illinois 300 at Gateway. Recent races have not offered relief; at the 2025 Enjoy Illinois 300, Busch suffered a spin and ended the grueling 300-mile contest in 22nd position.
Harvick Dissects Busch’s Performance Issues
During the podcast, Harvick did not shy away from assessing Busch’s current form and driving approach as he adapts to the demands of the new cars. He commented:
“Uh, you know, I think their cars are just off. I think that Kyle, being Kyle, wants to push it faster, further than make things try to go faster. And when you do that in this car, you spin out. Um, so, you know, he’s just—he’s had a—he’s in a tough spot right now where the cars are performing.”
—Kevin Harvick, 2014 NASCAR Cup Series Champion
He added further details, focusing on Busch’s repeated difficulties:
“And it seems like he goes overboard almost on a weekly basis. Um, you know, with the spinouts and and things that have happened because there’s just no—there’s no cushion there. Yeah. And you can’t make the thing do more than it’ll do. And you know, that’s hard because he’s not been programmed that way for his whole career,”
Harvick added. —Kevin Harvick, 2014 NASCAR Cup Series Champion
The Shift from Joe Gibbs Racing and Its Consequences
Busch’s transition to Richard Childress Racing and the NextGen era appears tied to his recent performance slump. While driving the #18 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, Busch racked up 56 wins, amassed 206 top-five finishes, 304 top tens, and sat on pole 29 times out of 528 starts, even earning two Cup Series titles. Since moving to the #8 Chevy Camaro ZL1 at Richard Childress Racing in 2023, those dominant numbers have shriveled. Harvick squarely attributed this downturn to the characteristics of the new vehicle:
“I think his car has totally disrupted everything that’s made Kyle Busch good. 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.”
—Kevin Harvick, 2014 NASCAR Cup Series Champion
Current Standings and Hope for a Turnaround
Busch is presently 20th in the Cup Series championship with 585 points, marking a steep drop from prior seasons. He managed to achieve eight finishes inside the top ten, including two top-fives at Chicago and Circuit of the Americas, but continues to search for his first checkered flag of the year. With his experience at Bristol Motor Speedway—where he has taken victory eight times—Busch is eyeing the upcoming Bass Pro Shops Night as a chance to salvage a difficult year.
What Lies Ahead for Kyle Busch
As the 2025 NASCAR season approaches its decisive Round of 16 at Bristol on September 13, all eyes will be on whether Busch’s fortunes can turn at a track where he’s previously excelled. Harvick’s insights have shed light on the profound effect of the NextGen car design on one of NASCAR’s top talents, with the driver, team, and fans all waiting to see if the challenges can be overcome or if the narrative of Kyle Busch 2025 Cup Series struggles will persist throughout the remainder of the year.
