There’s a reason why NASCAR’s top level is so demanding. While the sport has three tiers in its national series, each of them can almost be described as a unique motorsports discipline in itself. Driving the Truck, Xfinity, and Cup Series vehicles brings about their fair share of challenges, and not every racer is as versatile as Kyle Larson to win multiple races on a track during the same weekend. Despite all his experience, Kyle Busch was forced to learn that lesson the hard way.
‘Rowdy’ made his second Truck Series appearance of the season at North Wilkesboro Speedway, and the veteran ended up ninth at the 2025 Window World 250. However, Busch couldn’t use that experience during the All-Star Race’s heats and qualifying at ‘The Moonshiner’ as he looks to break his 69-race winless streak.
Kyle Busch makes a unique find at North Wilkesboro
Expectations were high for Kyle Busch. Why would they not be? The veteran racer had already finished ninth at the 2025 Window World 250 at North Wilkesboro Speedway during the weekend. He ended up in sixth place during Heat 2 qualifying and climbed up to fourth during the 75-lap prelim. The result meant that the Richard Childress Racing driver will start the exhibition race in eighth place, next to Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney, who also finished fourth in Heat 1.
However, the qualifying result was far from satisfactory. Revealing the underlying reasons behind his struggles, Kyle Busch said, “It’s funny because the Truck line that I was running was super high, right up on the wall. Get into the wall in the middle of the corner. The Cup car was a lane lower. Just a difference between the two vehicles. What I learned in the Truck race didn’t do a lot. Good overall effort. Certainly want more, felt like we fell off a little too much at the end. It was just too tight.”
Busch started the 2025 Window World 250 from second place, but couldn’t maintain his track position after the green flag was waved. By the end of Stage 1, the No. 07 Chevy was 10th on the grid, but managed to climb up to sixth after 140 laps. Eventually, ‘Rowdy’ was forced to settle for a ninth-place finish at the short track. However, he could not use that ‘high line’ in his Cup car during the heat races and qualifying, which means the Nevada native won’t have an advantage going into the All-Star Race.
.@KyleBusch says the unique line he found in the Truck race today was not a usable option in the Cup car. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/0VARJWCKPx
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) May 17, 2025
North Wilkesboro Speedway is notoriously difficult to make passes on, especially during the Next-Gen era. Joey Logano led from pole in last year’s exhibition race and led 199 out of 200 laps at the 0.625-mile track. If history is anything to go by, Kyle Busch will have his work cut out for him on Sunday’s race, and with his Truck Series experience not proving to be useful, it will be a level playing field at ‘The Moonshiner’.
Stenhouse Jr. looks back on his clash with Busch
Logano may have won the All-Star Race last year, but the exhibition event was dominated by what happened after the checkered flag was waved. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Kyle Busch clashed after the race because of an on-track incident, with tempers flaring and fists flying on the sidelines. What followed was a $75,000 fine for the Tennessee native, as well as two crew members being suspended for their role in the altercation.
When asked if the matter has been put to bed with Busch, Stenhouse Jr. said, “Oh yeah, we’ve talked. I mean, I’ve apologized to him for like, ‘hey, sorry that kind of got out of hand.’ And on the other hand, he’s like, ‘yeah, it’s kind of deserving, right?’ So he knew what he did on purpose, and so I would say we both probably could have done things different, but yeah, just part of it.” He went on to say, “It cost a little bit, but yeah, it’s part of it. I think, hopefully this year, I don’t plan on being out the first lap and plan on making the end of the race, so hopefully that all works out.”
Kyle Busch is also eager to put that incident behind him, as he said, “Move on and put that behind us.” A year later, both drivers are in close quarters once again, if their positioning in the Cup Series Playoffs standings. While both racers will hope they don’t tangle up again, North Wilkesboro Speedway tends to spring up unexpected situations. Could the old rivalry be reignited between the two? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
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