Few drivers have shaped the NASCAR craftsman truck series quite like Kyle Busch. With over 67 career wins, a reputation for mentoring young talent, and his ownership of the powerhouse team Kyle Busch Motorsports, Busch has long been a dominant force in the series.
Even after selling KBM to Spire Motors in 2023, his relationship with the series still remains strong. He continues to run a handful of truck races each year, now piloting the number seven truck for Spire Motorsports. It is quite a shift that marks both a new chapter in his career and a chance to stay connected to a series that helped define him.
But this weekend’s race was a little bit different. The fighting spirit was definitely on display at Charlotte; Kyle returned to the track but came up short of contending for victory.
In the season, Busch had an extremely strong start, having participated in three races and achieving a win at Atlanta and finishing ninth at North Wilkesboro. However, this Friday wasn’t the same. In typical Kyle Busch fashion, he did not sugarcoat his words after the race.
No fireball, no win
Returning to Charlotte Motor Speedway in the no 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado, Kyle Busch showcased his competitive spirit early in the race. Midway through the event, he was running strong, even securing a third place finish in stage two. However, as the race progressed, Busch found himself unable to maintain his position among the leaders.
A very pivotal moment occurred during a pit stop where Busch lost crucial track position. Despite his efforts, he couldn’t regain the lost ground, ultimately finishing fifth behind Corey Heim, Ross Chastain, Kaden Honeycutt, and Layne Riggs. This result definitely marked his third top 10 finish in as many starts for Spire Motorsports this season.
A very disappointed Kyle Busch reflected on his race in a short interview with Peter Stratta, saying, “Yeah, I mean, I think middle of the race was pretty good, but, you know, there at the end we were just all kind of stretched out. So, I wasn’t able to get those guys.”
.@KyleBusch: “I didn’t quite have the fireball I’m used to having with the KBM trucks”
The @SpireMotorsport driver leaves Charlotte in 5th. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/URPX2Bl6v1
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) May 24, 2025
He noted the lack of pace that he was experiencing towards the end of the race, commenting, “I got beat off pit road and just couldn’t get back to them. But overall, you know, just lacking a little bit of overall speed. Just didn’t have that raw fireball that I’m used to with the KBM trucks.” As Busch goes on to miss the KBM, could this indicate something deeper? Maybe regretting the decision he made?
Reminiscing about the fireball
For more than a decade, Busch owned the races in the truck series. Through Kyle Busch Motorsports, he became the winningest driver in series history and the owner of the most dominant team in the garage. KBM amassed 100 wins and seven owners’ titles and developed champions like Eric Jones and Christopher Bell. Bush alone contributed 48 of those wins, piloting equipment that he said was “the best in the field.”
But in 2013, Busch made the difficult decision of selling KBM to Spire Motorsports. After his Cup Series switched from Toyota to Chevrolet, with Richard Childress racing sustaining KBM, especially amid the manufacturer shift, became increasingly difficult for bush.
“It was starting to look a bit grim on sustainability. I was like, you know what? This might be the time to just kind of say, hey, if there’s anybody out there, you know, come take it.”
Now racing the Inspire truck instead of his own, Busch still remains quite a presence in the series—still fast, still fierce, and no longer in control of the machinery. “I still really enjoy being a part of the process of evaluating the equipment and being a mentor to the young drivers in Spire’s lineup. It’s fun trying to help speed up their learning curve by passing on a few pointers here and there.”
Kyle recalls how KBM started. Busch said, “Honestly, on the flip side of that, it’s very bittersweet. I love all the people there. I love KBM. I love the race shop. Samantha and I built that shop from when it was ‘dirt’ to what it is today.”
“And we’ve had amazing fan days and everything else. People in and out of there, with great employees, have made that place successful and have brought 7 owners championships and over a 100 race wins and whatnot. So, it has been a lot of fun. But it is going to be bittersweet to see the end.”
Kyle Busch hangs his head low in the post-race interview with Peter, saying, “Just didn’t have that raw fireball that I’m used to with the KBM trucks.” Could this be a discussion that Kyle Busch now regrets?
But with races like Charlotte that are competitive yet just out of reach, it serves as a reason for what KBM wants, not just to speed but also for supremacy. With two more runs left in the Truck Series, all eyes are on Kyle to see what he can take back home this season.
Do you think he regrets the decision to sell KBM to Spire Motorsports? Let us know in the comment section!
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