Kyle Busch is approaching the DuraMAX Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) with caution, warning that tire management could be critical at the Texas track, as he seeks to move past a painful defeat last season. The Richard Childress Racing driver’s focus on tire strategy follows a missed win at COTA in 2023, where subtle differences in tire age played a decisive role—a lesson that shapes his approach for this weekend’s event, marking the year’s first road course in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Concerns Resurface Ahead of Texas Road Course
As NASCAR’s top teams prepare for COTA, all eyes are on the Goodyear Racing Eagle tire compound, which returns this season after being introduced at the venue last year and subsequently used at every other road course. Justin Fantozzi, Goodyear’s Director of Racing, has emphasized that this consistency helps teams adapt more easily during long runs and varying track grip. Busch, however, knows from experience that even small differences in tire wear can overturn race-day expectations. He still recalls how last spring’s decision in the pits and the timing of cautions left him just short of victory.
“Looking forward to COTA, I always love going there,” Kyle Busch said via Speedway Media. “We really had a good car last year at COTA. We were on the right side of strategy and coming to pit road when we did. We had a four second gap to the next guy behind us for the last couple laps of the race, and I don’t think they would have caught us.”
“Unfortunately, a yellow came out, and I had to try to race it out through a couple of restarts. Our two-lap older tires were just enough that Christopher Bell was able to get us, so we gracefully faded to fifth,” he continued.
Reflecting on last year’s late-race developments, Busch admitted fault in assessing how best to close out. His pit strategy saw him change tires on Lap 69, while Christopher Bell’s crew pushed two laps longer before pitting. This meant Bell lined up for the closing laps with noticeably fresher rubber, giving him a distinct edge when racing resumed.
How Critical Tire Strategy Slipped Away in 2023
As the race wound down, tire wear became the central story. Busch’s warning this week makes clear that last year’s lesson is top of mind, especially with the Goodyear Racing Eagle tire expected to degrade more quickly than before. He maintains that even a minor gap in tire life can become the deciding factor in the high-stakes environment of a Cup Series restart.
“I think there will be a good amount of tire falloff and more than what we’ve seen in years past,” Busch explained. “Last year, we saw a good bit of tire falloff. I just mentioned how we only had two lap older tires than Christopher Bell, and he was able to outrace me at the end of the race.”
“Tires are going to be more paramount this weekend. You might see guys, if there’s a late caution with 10 to go, that got three or four lap old tires might come, pit, and try to drive back through the field and hope that the front guys burn their stuff up. Fresher tires more times than not, especially with more horsepower, you’re going to want them,” he added.
For Busch, the heartache of last season’s defeat has not changed his view that COTA remains one of his better tracks. He’s finished inside the top ten in four out of five Cup Series starts at the Austin circuit, and his runner-up result last season continues to serve as motivation. Busch attributes much of what happened to a split-second sequence and the relentless reality of tire degradation on road courses.
Last Year’s Race: From Dominance to Defeat in Final Laps
Busch had command for most of 2023’s Cup Series event at COTA. He led 42 of the 95 total laps and set the pace during key stretches, including the final green-flag run of the race. With just under 20 laps remaining, Busch built a buffer of over six seconds to his pursuers—an advantage that should have been enough, under normal circumstances, to maintain track position and protect his lines through the technical corners.
However, a crash on Lap 78 brought out a late caution and erased his lead. The restart put Busch under immediate threat from the pack, especially from Christopher Bell, who had been able to pit later and benefit from newer tires. Although Busch held off Bell for several laps after the restart, the difference in tire condition soon became clear. Bell executed a bold pass for the lead on Lap 89, with contact between their cars damaging Busch’s right rear and adversely affecting his ability to compete for the win.
The damage and declining tire grip made it increasingly difficult for Busch to defend his position in the closing laps. As the event reached its conclusion, William Byron and Tyler Reddick were able to sneak by, with Busch sliding back to fifth at the checkered flag. The finish was frustrating for the two-time Cup champion, who had controlled the event for long stretches only to see his hard work undone by strategy and circumstance.
Searching for Solutions and Redemption at COTA
Busch’s warnings on tire wear come at a pivotal time. After a challenging start to the 2026 season, COTA presents both a risk and an opportunity for the Richard Childress Racing team. For Busch and the #8 car, strong tire management may be the key that unlocks a reversal in fortune, especially with the same Goodyear setup returning to the Texas circuit.
The event is also significant for Goodyear, whose director Justin Fantozzi believes that experience with the Racing Eagle tire will benefit all drivers for the upcoming road course races. Teams, including those led by championship contenders like William Byron and Tyler Reddick, are expected to closely monitor tire performance and adapt their pit strategies accordingly. For Busch, the focus remains firmly on not repeating last year’s mistakes and seizing what could be a decisive moment for his season.
The question now is whether the lessons from 2023—and Busch’s outspoken warnings—will shape team decisions throughout the weekend. As NASCAR’s best drivers prepare for a complex, high-pressure event at Circuit of The Americas, all attention turns to tires and the strategies that could determine who takes the checkered flag in Texas.
