What Happened to Kyle Busch Today? What Car Does Kyle Busch Drive?
by Rubaditsha
Updated Jul 18, 2023
What Happened to Kyle Busch Today?
Kyle Busch's day at New Hampshire Motor Speedway ended early due to a crash during Stage 1 of the NASCAR Cup Series race. Starting from the rear of the field because of a wreck during Saturday's qualifying session, Busch struggled to make significant progress after the race began.
As Stage 1 was nearing its conclusion on Lap 70, Busch's No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet collided with the Turn 1 wall. Corey LaJoie's No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevy also experienced a similar incident, scraping the outside barrier. At the time of the crash, Busch was running in 27th place, while LaJoie was in 31st.
Busch managed to limp his damaged car to pit road and completed an additional lap. However, the No. 8 crew determined that the damage sustained was too severe to continue the race. Following a quick check at the infield care center, Busch expressed his struggle with right-rear grip throughout the race. He mentioned that he couldn't find the right feel on the track and, as the run progressed, he attempted a different line but ended up too high on entry, leading to the crash.
Unfortunately, Busch finished last in the 36-car field, marking the end of his seven consecutive top-10 finishes. Prior to the New Hampshire race, he was ranked third in the Cup Series standings with three wins in the season. However, due to the did not finish (DNF) result, he slipped to fifth in the rankings.
As for LaJoie, he continued after making contact with the wall but eventually headed to the garage after meeting the minimum-speed requirement at the start of Stage 2. The team spent a significant amount of time off the track for repairs, and LaJoie was able to finish the race, albeit 125 laps behind, in 33rd place.
What Car Does Kyle Busch Drive?
As of 2023, Kyle Busch drives multiple cars in different racing series. In the NASCAR Cup Series, he drives the No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Richard Childress Racing (RCR). This is a significant change for Busch, as he previously drove for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) from 2008 to 2022, primarily piloting the No. 18 Toyota Camry. However, after his departure from JGR, Busch made the switch to RCR and now competes in the No. 8 Chevy.
In addition to his Cup Series endeavors, Busch also participates in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. In the Xfinity Series, he drives the No. 10 Chevrolet Camaro for Kaulig Racing. This allows him to compete part-time in the Xfinity Series alongside his full-time Cup Series commitments.
In the Truck Series, Busch is the team owner of Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM), which runs multiple trucks. He personally drives the No. 51 Chevrolet Silverado for KBM. This involvement allows him to compete in select races in the Truck Series while providing opportunities for other drivers to race under the KBM banner.
Therefore, Kyle Busch's racing endeavors involve driving the No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the Cup Series for RCR, the No. 10 Chevrolet Camaro in the Xfinity Series for Kaulig Racing, and the No. 51 Chevrolet Silverado in the Truck Series for Kyle Busch Motorsports.
Kyle Busch Teammates
Kyle Busch has had various teammates throughout his career in different racing series. In the NASCAR Cup Series, he has shared the team with notable drivers, including Jeff Gordon and Denny Hamlin. During his time at Hendrick Motorsports, Busch was teammates with Jeff Gordon from 2003 to 2007.
In the press conference mentioned previously, Busch referenced an incident with Gordon that required intervention from team owner Rick Hendrick. This incident likely refers to an on-track altercation between Busch and Gordon during the 2007 NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway. After the race, the two drivers had a heated exchange, but they were ultimately able to work through their differences with the help of team management.
After joining Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) in 2008, Busch became teammates with Denny Hamlin. Busch mentioned that he and Hamlin had disagreements over their philosophies on speedway racing, particularly during incidents in the All-Star race and at other speedway events. To resolve these conflicts, team owner Joe Gibbs played a role in facilitating discussions between the drivers to help them find common ground and move forward as teammates.
As the owner of Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Busch has also dealt with conflicts between his own teammates. He mentioned that when issues arise among drivers in his team, he speaks to them individually and then brings them together to address the problems. This approach allows the drivers to discuss their concerns openly and find resolutions that benefit the team as a whole.
While not explicitly mentioned in the provided information, it is worth noting that Busch has had numerous teammates throughout his career, both in the Cup Series and in the Xfinity Series. These teammates have included drivers such as Martin Truex Jr., Erik Jones, and Christopher Bell at JGR, and Justin Haley and AJ Allmendinger at Kaulig Racing in the Xfinity Series.
Overall, Busch has experienced various teammate dynamics throughout his career, and he understands the importance of effective communication and mediation in resolving conflicts and maintaining a harmonious team environment.
Kyle Busch Career Stats
Busch Light Clash
6
3
0
0
Duel 2 at DAYTONA
5
19
0
0
Daytona International Speedway
36
19
18
0
Auto Club Speedway
21
1
49
5
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
5
14
25
0
Phoenix Raceway
9
8
30
0
Atlanta Motor Speedway
17
10
31
0
Circuit of The Americas
9
2
39
0
Richmond Raceway
2
14
23
0
Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt
5
32
19
0
Martinsville Speedway
17
21
16
0
Talladega Superspeedway
17
1
40
5
Dover Motor Speedway
1
21
16
0
Kansas Speedway
16
35
2
0
Darlington Raceway
12
7
45
0
All-Star Race
14
22
0
0
Charlotte Motor Speedway
5
6
39
0
World Wide Technology Raceway
1
1
59
6
Sonoma Raceway
12
2
45
1
Nashville Superspeedway
11
9
32
0
Chicago Street Race
18
5
32
0
Atlanta Motor Speedway
22
5
32
0
New Hampshire Motor Speedway
10
36
1
0
Track
Starting Position
Finishing Position
Points
Playoff Points
Kyle Busch New Hampshire
Kyle Busch's day at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series race ended early due to a crash at the end of Stage 1. Starting from the rear of the field due to a wreck in qualifying, Busch faced challenges in making significant progress during the race. Unfortunately, on Lap 70, his No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet collided with the Turn 1 wall, resulting in severe damage to his car.
At the time of the incident, Busch was running in 27th place, while Corey LaJoie's No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevy also scraped the outside barrier in a similar incident. Busch managed to limp his damaged car to pit road and completed an additional lap before the No. 8 crew determined that the damage was terminal, leading to his official retirement from the race.
Busch expressed his frustration with the lack of right-rear grip throughout the race and mentioned that he was struggling to find the right feel on the track. He described attempting a different line on the high entry of the turn, which ultimately resulted in the crash. This unfortunate incident marked the end of his race, with Busch finishing last in the 36-car field.
Prior to the New Hampshire race, Busch had been performing well, with seven consecutive top-10 finishes and a strong position in the Cup Series standings. However, the DNF at New Hampshire caused him to slip from third to fifth in the championship rankings. Despite the setback, Busch's move to Richard Childress Racing for the 2023 season represented a new chapter in his career, and his fans and the racing community were eager to see his performance with his new team.
What Happened to Kyle Busch:FAQs
Kyle Busch's early exit was a result of a crash during Stage 1 of the race.
Kyle Busch started from the rear of the field due to a wreck during Saturday's qualifying session.
Kyle Busch struggled to make significant progress during the race before the crash occurred.
Kyle Busch drove for Richard Childress Racing (RCR) in the NASCAR Cup Series at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Prior to the New Hampshire race, Kyle Busch had a streak of seven consecutive top-10 finishes in the Cup Series.