If Kyle Busch and the No. 8 crew have not already hit the panic button, it is time to take action.
Busch is probably not in a mathematical “must-win” state of affairs with seven races remaining within the Cup Sequence regular-season, however a Twenty seventh-place end at Nashville now leaves the two-time Cup Sequence champion nineteenth within the Cup Sequence playoff standings, 104 factors behind Sixteenth-place driver Alex Bowman.
Nashville marks the seventh race in a row that Busch has failed to complete contained in the top-10, along with his finest end over the seven race span being a twelfth at Sonoma.
Whereas 2024 has simply been the worst season of Busch’s legendary profession, it feels as if a season like this was inevitable for the 39 year-old driver, who since successful his second championship in 2019, has slowly declined in efficiency.
After nixed apply in 2020, Busch struggled mightily, barely conserving his then 16-year successful streak alive on the Texas Motor Speedway in October. In 2021, Busch seemed barely higher, successful twice and practically making the Championship 4.
Whereas 2022 turned out to be Busch’s fifteenth and remaining 12 months with Joe Gibbs Racing, it might not be a contented sendoff. Busch solely gained one race — a fluky victory on the Bristol Grime Race on Easter — and was knocked out of the playoffs within the first spherical. Busch’s swan track season with JGR additionally included a number of engine failures and a horrendous race on the Martinsville Speedway in October, the place Busch ran thirtieth on velocity for a lot of the day.
2023, although, appeared go deliver hope for the veteran — he gained three of his first 15 races with Richard Childress Racing, instantly being billed as a championship contender. Whereas the second half of 2023 bore little fruit, 2024 was anticipated to yield extra wins and a possible championship push for the No. 8 crew.
As a substitute, it has been precisely the other.
Busch solely has two top-fives and 5 top-10’s by way of the primary 19 occasions of 2024, and the automobiles below him have been painfully sluggish. Whereas some blame can actually be positioned on a Richard Childress Racing group that has clearly taken a step again, it seems that Busch’s standing as an growing older veteran is lastly getting the most effective of him.
Father Time has at all times been particularly merciless to NASCAR’s legends. Whether or not or not it’s Jimmie Johnson, Darrell Waltrip or Richard Petty, few of NASCAR’s greats have ever been persistently aggressive in direction of the tip of their careers.
If large adjustments aren’t made by Busch or his race crew, the once-invincible Kyle Busch may discover himself being guided right into a painful retirement — with none aside from Father Time himself pulling the strings.