Texas Motor Speedway pulsed with raw intensity as the NASCAR Cup Series delivered a chaotic 267-lap spectacle. Kyle Busch, behind the wheel of the No. 8 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing (RCR), was the center of attention. It was days after his 40th birthday, a chance to add another chapter to his Texas legacy, where he’s previously turned races into a “masterclass.” However, as he was putting together a good run, the ‘Announcers Jinx’ struck!
Busch, a two-time champion who was once banned from a track as a kid for being too young, carried the hopes of fans longing for his “good ol’ days.,” ahead of the race. He’d called Texas “sketchy” but fast, and the crowd believed he could conquer it again. The race was a war zone. By lap 251, 15 lead changes among 11 drivers and 10 cautions for 65 laps had torn through the field. Kyle Larson owned Stage 2, clinching a record sixth stage win at Texas on lap 165. Michael McDowell led late under caution, with Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano in pursuit. Busch, holding strong in third, was poised for a birthday triumph—until everything unraveled.
Kevin Harvick could not have timed it worse
Kyle Busch got loose on Turn 4 and sent his No. 8 spinning in a heartbreaking blur. In the FOX booth, Kevin Harvick, the 2014 champion turned broadcaster, dissected the action with Clint Bowyer. Harvick’s insights are gold, but his reputation for jinxing drivers is infamous. In Texas, Harvick’s voice struck like lightning as social media ignited with fury, pointing fingers at the former champion.
Just as Kyle Busch worked his way up to third after overtaking Ryan Blaney, Kevin Harvick was reaping praises for the #8. Harvick said, “The guy right behind him [Ryan Blaney], Kyle Busch. We know how hungry he is to get his car back in victory lane.” As the 2014 champion completed that sentence, the 2015 champion was spinning around on Turn 4. Kyle Busch was currently on a 67-race winless streak entering Texas, and every NASCAR fan knows how bad Busch wants to get a race win. Harvick’s words were from a place of support, but turned out to be a massive jinx. Regardless, his co-broadcaster Clint Bowyer had words of appreciation for Busch after the crash.
Kevin Harvick timing pic.twitter.com/4tjUbpcGqW
— Izan5555 (@izan5555) May 4, 2025
Bowyer praised Busch’s consistency. “They are trying. Everybody’s digging. They’re getting close. You don’t run up front like that… They’ll have their day.” Kyle Busch started the race in 26th place and worked his way up methodically. He was 15th at the end of stage 1, 10th at stage 2, and it looked like Busch had finally developed a winning strategy, until bad luck on a ‘sketchy’ track took him out. This was not the ending he wanted for his 40th birthday weekend.
Rowdy is trying to replicate Denny Hamlin‘s performance, as they both are around the same age. Busch said ahead of the race at Texas after his 40th birthday on May 2nd, “Denny has done a great job. He’s 43-44, he’s still winning races, winning them at more than one clip a year, so that’s admirable and something that I wanna do,” said Rowdy. Buach had a shot to get it done today, and fans believe it was ruined by Kevin Harvick.
Texas saw other wrecks—Hocevar and Preece late, but Busch’s crash, tied to Harvick’s voice, hit fans hardest. Fans saw Busch as a warrior, his Texas spin a betrayal by Harvick’s cursed tongue. The fallout on social media was visceral, a mix of heartbreak, humor, and rage. Each reaction told a story of loyalty to Busch and frustration with the broadcaster’s uncanny knack for doom.
Fans are blaming Kevin Harvick for Kyle Busch’s misery
“I just want a live reaction of KB watching that elite level jinx,” one fan posted, craving Busch’s raw emotion as his No. 8 spun from third on lap 251. Rowdy’s infamous for being a little short-tempered. Adding to the woes, his season has been a grind with RCR’s struggles. Fans felt his pain, imagining his disbelief as Harvick’s praise turned to poison.
“The closer strikes again.. Kevin Harvick cast a spell on Busch!” another fan vented, repurposing Harvick’s racing nickname, ‘The closer,’ into a dark jab. Harvick was known for closing out races in tense situations, even championships. The broadcaster famously won the 2014 championship by winning the final 2 races of the year after placing 8th on the playoff cutline heading into them. But this time, Harvick’s ‘closing’ skills closed Busch’s attempt at a win.
“Kevin Harvick, what a jinx you are,” a third fan wrote, the alien emoji softening their fury. Busch’s wreck, against his gritty legacy, painted Harvick as an otherworldly villain. Fans believed Harvick’s booth was a bad-luck vortex, and Busch, chasing redemption, was its latest victim.
“God-level announcer jinx from Kevin Harvick,” another declared, elevating the incident to legend. Texas’s 15 lead changes and relentless wrecks amplified the drama, but Busch’s spin was the fans’ rallying cry. To them, Busch was a champion battling RCR’s woes, and Harvick’s words were a dagger. The jinx wasn’t just a moment—it was a betrayal of their hero.
The post Fans Attack Kevin Harvick as Kyle Busch Falls Victim to Cursed Broadcaster’s Tongue appeared first on EssentiallySports.
