Kyle Busch is known as Rowdy for a reason. Apart from his off-track antics throwing punches and taking some, he is a fierce race car driver. One that pushes the limit right to the edge. Doesn’t matter if the odds are in his favor or not, Rowdy Busch will find a way to get the job done. Unfortunately, things didn’t go according to plan in the Echo Park Automotive Grand Prix in COTA.
Trying to snap a 59-race winless streak, Busch was in control of the race on Sunday biding his time and working the strategy. But a late race caution foiled his plans and allowed Christopher Bell to get on his tail. The No. 20 JGR Toyota Camry had 3 laps fresher tire advantage over the No. 8 Chevy and this tactical advantage worked in favor of Bell.
Now we know that both Bell and Busch have a bit of history while competing at COTA. Only last year, the RCR star interrupted Bell’s post-race interview and exchanged some heated words. So the fans certainly got a bang for their buck to see the two stars going at it on the track on Sunday. But only this time, everyone was stunned to see Kyle Busch take the defeat on his chin, rather than venting out his frustration in post-race interviews.
Is Kyle Busch getting soft with age?
The Richard Childress Racing driver showed glimpses of his old form, leading 42 laps and positioning himself within a chance of victory. It even felt like, for a moment, that the old Rowdy is back, with his aggression and calculated defence. Fans even saw him winning the race, making the 2024 season just a bad blip in his career, could this be the race that broke his winless streak? Yet, as the race went on and Christopher Bell appeared in his mirror, that hope began to dwindle down. The duel that followed was a masterclass in road course racing by the two drivers – it was respectful, tense, thrilling, and had us on the edge of our seats.
Given the pressure Busch has on his shoulders, people expected him to have an animated response after the race. We saw his Rowdy version last year, but this time around, he acknowledged that Bell was a better driver, perhaps with a better set-up. “He was much faster than me and was able to just do a good job of biding his time and waiting for me to make a couple mistakes in a row. Once I made two mistakes in a row, then it was over.” Busch said in and post-race interview reflecting on the race and his duel with Bell.
“Just was a tick faster than what I was,” Busch said after the race. He also mentioned that he was “making it incredibly difficult on him” and that Bell was indeed “gracious” in his racing and did not dump him. There was a moment when the JGR driver had all the momentum he needed to make the dive bomb move in Turn 1. But, knowing that he would wreck Busch in doing so, he bailed out at the very last moment, almost conceding his second place to William Byron.
Two in a row. COTA winner @CBellRacing checks in with @JoshRSims after climbing out. pic.twitter.com/nAgv9wdgUL
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 3, 2025
What changed the race in Bell’s favour was the caution late in the race for an incident between Denny Hamlin and Austin Dillon that saw Busch lose his 4-second lead. “That caution definitely hurt us. That was not what we needed.” Rowdy was banking on his long-run strategy to preserve his tires, while Bell was on the clock trying to chase him down. But, in reality, the late caution flipped the script in Bell’s favor.
“If he was going to have to push like if I was just able to maintain a pace um and he had to push harder than that and burn his stuff up to get there we might have had a shot to be able to beat him because he wouldn’t have had more grip when he got to me right, he would have already been slipping,” Busch added.
Bell’s victory at COTA marked this as his second consecutive win after his win at Atlanta last week, showcasing why he is considered as the sport’s brightest emerging star. Bell and Busch put up a thrilling display of racing for the fans at COTA, displaying the skills and respect between the two drivers – one representing the sport’s future and the other its legendary past.
What’s Next for Kyle Busch?
The loss at COTA has extended his winless streak to 60 races, since his victory at Illinois back in 2023. For a driver who always seemed invincible, this dry spell of no wins is unheard of in sports history. This has raised questions and whispers of whether ‘Rowdy’ still has what it takes to compete at the highest level. Or is this just a temporary setback in an otherwise legendary career?
Speculation regarding his career and his future at sports’ highest level are rising. Some believe his best years are behind him, with Busch being 39 years old, his reign threatened by young talent rising through the ranks. Another important factor that will soon become a storyline is that Busch is in his contract year with Richard Childress Racing. The 60-race winless streak and constant pressure to deliver a win could ultimately get the better of both the driver and the team. This could see Rowdy become the hot prospect for silly season rumors and speculations.
For now, all eyes are on the next race weekend at the Phoenix Raceway. Will ‘Rowdy’ rise from the ashes or will he fade into NASCAR lore as the ghost of the past?
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