Kyle Busch, reflecting on his time away from racing, recently recounted notable fishing memories involving Rick Hendrick and the late Bill France Jr., providing fans with a personal glimpse into his connections within NASCAR. These recollections, originating from a 2014 discussion, shine light on a different side of Busch’s journey, emphasizing his off-track relationships and treasured experiences as he continues his NASCAR career. The topic of Kyle Busch fishing memories drew extra attention as he navigates the next chapter with Richard Childress Racing.
Kyle Busch Looks Back on Unique Day With NASCAR Icons
In a 2014 interview with Jeff Gluck for the “12 Questions” segment, Kyle Busch was prompted to share the most remarkable experience he had outside of racing. Without hesitation, Busch described a fishing trip featuring his then-boss Rick Hendrick as well as Bill France Jr., both of whom are significant figures in NASCAR history.
He remembered the distinctive vessels owned by Hendrick and detailed the day’s unusual gathering, noting France Jr. was already involved in fishing when they arrived. For Busch, the company and the conversations made the day memorable for reasons well beyond the catch itself.
“I was with Rick (Hendrick), and he’s got a bunch of boats – a speedboat, a fishing boat, a yacht, all that. Well we went out on his fishing boat one day and Bill (France) Jr. was there.”
— Kyle Busch, NASCAR Driver
“That was a cool day,” Busch continued.
“It was Rick, his two captains, Bill Jr. and like three other guys. We went fishing, I shot the bull with France and talked about the sport and what he remembered it as and where he wanted to see it go.”
— Kyle Busch, NASCAR Driver
The memory finds its roots during a period when Busch was still with Hendrick Motorsports, prior to his move to Joe Gibbs Racing for the 2008 season. Over his storied Cup Series career, Busch collected 56 of his 63 Cup victories while driving for Joe Gibbs Racing and claimed NASCAR Cup Series championships in both 2015 and 2019. Later, he joined Richard Childress Racing, where he currently pilots the No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 as a full-time competitor.
Challenging Season and New Directions with Crew Chief Jim Pohlman
The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season posed distinct challenges for Kyle Busch, who completed the year winless and marked a personal low by finishing 21st in championship points. He tallied only three top-five finishes out of 36 starts, a figure not seen in any of his previous 21 full seasons at the top level. Such results encouraged reflection on both personal and team performance.
During a pre-Championship 4 interview with NASCAR.com, held in Phoenix, the Las Vegas native refrained from assigning a grade to the year but acknowledged it had been far from exceptional for the No. 8 Richard Childress Racing entry.
“It hasn’t been a good one. We all know that and got to get better,”
he added. — Kyle Busch, NASCAR Driver
Looking ahead, Busch identified the upcoming offseason as a prime opportunity to build rapport and improve synergy with his newly installed crew chief, Jim Pohlman. Pohlman most recently worked as crew chief for Connor Zilisch in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. The goal is to develop a solid foundation, aiming to enhance team communication and understanding before the new year begins.
“I think this offseason will be different just based off of trying to build some camaraderie and some time with Jim,”
said Kyle Busch.
“Being able to spend some time with him and just kind of figure things out and what makes him tick, and obviously ways of things of what makes me tick and getting on the same page to start our season.”
— Kyle Busch, NASCAR Driver
Anticipation Builds for Busch’s Next Steps in NASCAR
Kyle Busch now prepares for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, which is set to launch with the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on February 1. The 200-lap special event will be broadcast on FOX, with updates delivered via MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, as fans await the next phase in Busch’s enduring career. Notably, the story of Kyle Busch fishing memories continues to stand as an enduring example of the relationships and moments that shape the legends of the sport.
