Two-time Cup Series Champion Kyle Busch has been in many battles on the track. But last week, he faced off against a different kind of challenger—his 9-year-old son, Brexton Busch. The two squared off in a 20-lap Winged Micro Feature event at Millbridge Speedway, marking their first official race against each other. The event was a special moment for the Busch family, giving fans a glimpse into the future of their racing legacy.
Kyle, who started fifth, quickly worked his way up through the field, while Brexton, who started seventh, followed closely. On Lap 14, a spin by the leader reshuffled the order, placing both Buschs near the front. Kyle showed his veteran skills, making a bold three-wide move to take second place before settling for a third-place finish. Meanwhile, Brexton finished an impressive sixth in the 20-car field, proving that he’s learning fast. After the race, Kyle reflected on the surreal moment.
“It was cool. One of these days, we’ll get to battling it out and swapping back and forth, hopefully. But for a first-nighter, that’s impressive for a 9-year-old to come on out here,” he said. While the race was just a fun father-son showdown, it sparked conversations about Kyle Busch’s future. With Brexton making waves in racing, fans couldn’t help but wonder—could Kyle be nearing the end of his legendary NASCAR career? Ahead of Sunday’s Cook Out 400 clash at Martinsville, Busch fueled speculation.
Is Kyle Busch nearing the end?
Kyle Busch is turning 40 in May and has one year left on his contract with Richard Childress Racing (RCR). While his passion for racing remains, the struggles of the Next Gen car have taken a toll. The 64-race winless streak, the up-and-down performances, and RCR’s inconsistency have all led to serious questions about his future in NASCAR. Ahead of the Martinsville race, Busch was asked if he was considering retirement.
Rowdy didn’t dodge the question and gave an honest verdict. “I mean, it was a consideration three years ago… I think daily you kind of work through those things and those thoughts—where you want to be and what you want to do. But when you’re still out here being able to enjoy what you’re doing, working with your team, and continuing to try to improve RCR and improve the program,” he said.
Three years ago, Kyle Busch was in a peculiar spot. After spending the most successful period of his career at Joe Gibbs Racing and winning it all on two occasions, Busch was left with a tough call. With M&M’s and Mars dropping out as sponsors, JGR and Busch were left stranded. To add to that, Busch finished outside the top-10 in the drivers’ standings for the first time since 2012, showing early signs of struggle with the Next-Gen car. Despite all this, Busch decided to continue racing and switched to Richard Childress Racing in 2023, but little did he know that the rest of his time was going to be more of the same struggles.
After racing his son Brexton earlier this week, Kyle Busch was asked on FS1’s pre-race if he’s started to consider retirement. Busch turns 40 in May and has one year left on his current deal at RCR.
Busch says retirement was a “consideration” in 2022 but intimates that he still… pic.twitter.com/bvpQOgeiv5
— Steven Taranto (@STaranto92) March 30, 2025
It’s no secret that Busch has struggled to adapt to the Next Gen car. Since joining RCR in 2023, he has only won three races. His last victory came on June 4, 2023, at Gateway, and he is currently enduring a career-long, 64-race winless streak. For a driver who has dominated in the past, these struggles have been frustrating. Rowdy showed glimpses of speed this season, finishing fifth at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) after leading the most laps. But that momentum faded quickly with disappointing finishes of 33rd at Las Vegas and 21st at Homestead.
“It’s not due to lack of effort, that’s for sure,” Busch said at Martinsville Speedway. “Everybody works very hard; I know the long hours and everything that everybody does. The only thing I can say is, fundamentally, it’s just work smarter, not harder.” Notably, Busch’s main focus remains on improving RCR. When he signed with the team, the goal was to restore it to its former glory. He still believes in the process, but time is running out.
RCR’s inconsistency, combined with Busch’s struggles, has raised doubts about whether they can truly compete at a championship level. Additionally, Richard Childress has recently decided to give his Xfinity drivers some runs in his cup cars. His second-tier drivers Jesse Love and Austin Hill will get limited drive in RCR No.33 Toyota in upcoming races. Many believe that this might be the audition to replace Kyle Busch in 2026. With retirement speculation intensifying, the next big question is—what will Kyle Busch do after he eventually steps away from full-time racing?
What’s next for Rowdy? Life after racing!
Kyle Busch has been a NASCAR star for nearly two decades. A two-time Cup champion and the all-time wins leader across NASCAR’s three national series, he has built a Hall of Fame career. But when he does step away from full-time racing, he won’t disappear. One possibility is broadcasting. Busch recently dipped his toes into media, appearing on a broadcasting booth to analyze a Truck Series Race.
Interestingly, fans liked his knowledge and outspoken nature. Earlier, in 2024 he had received praise from fans for his appearance on “NASCAR Inside the Playoffs.” At that time, when asked about a future in the booth, he didn’t rule it out. “Maybe,” Busch told The Athletic’s Jeff Gluck. “I haven’t given it a whole lot of thought. I’m just dipping my toe into this and giving it a shot.”
He has seen other drivers successfully transition to TV. Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer, and Jeff Gordon have all become analysts at some point, while Dale Earnhardt Jr. has built a media empire. Busch knows broadcasting could be a way to stay involved while still being around his son’s racing career. But his biggest focus is Brexton. He wants to help his son climb the ranks, just as his father helped him. “I enjoy Brexton racing, and I want to be a part of that as well,” Busch had said. Busch isn’t walking away just yet. But for the first time, he’s openly acknowledging that the end might be closer than people think. The question now is—when will he make the call?
The post In a Shock, Kyle Busch Admits Retirement “Considerations” as Years of Misery Pile Up in Next Gen appeared first on EssentiallySports.
