Can RCR's Kyle Busch claw back from 45-point deficit with eight races to make the playoffs?

NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch is facing a tumultuous campaign in his second season with Richard Childress Racing. With eight races to go for the playoffs, the 39-year-old driver finds himself 45 points below the cutline.

The fan-favorite driver shocked the NASCAR community when he announced his departure from Joe Gibbs Racing at the end of 2022 season. Having won two Cup titles in his stint with JGR that lasted a decade and a half, he opted out of a contract renewal to sign with Richard Childress Racing in the 2023 season.

Busch's maiden campaign with RCR proved doubters wrong as Busch clinched three victories to secure a playoff spot last season. However, the ongoing season has proven to be a much bigger challenge for the Las Vegas native, who has struggled with his #8 Chevrolet.

Busch is currently 17th on the Cup Series standings after 18 races. His three DNFs and mere two top-5 finishes have amounted to a total of 385 points. Chase Briscoe of Stewart-Haas Racing currently occupies the 16th position.

The next eight races are crucial for Busch, but they are also daunting. Last year, his performance in these races had mixed results:

• Nashville: 9th
• Chicago Street Course: 5th
• Pocono: 21st
• Indianapolis: N/A
• Richmond: 3rd
• Michigan: 37th
• Daytona: 7th
• Darlington: 11th

Busch's average result in these races in 2023 highlight the unpredictable nature of NASCAR. To make up the 45-point deficit now, consistency and a bit of luck will be essential. However, the former JGR driver's recent form doesn't inspire much confidence.

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What was Kyle Busch's reaction after his DNF in New Hampshire?

Busch recorded his third DNF of the season at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday, also marking his third in his last four races. This alarming trend casts a shadow over his chances of making the playoffs.

New Hampshire epitomized the woes of Kyle Busch's season. After a two-hour rain delay, Busch lost grip on his wet-weather tires under caution and wrecked before the race restarted.

Reflecting on the race, the RCR driver told the media (via NBC Sports):

“I’m proud of everyone at RCR and all the guys on the FICO team for their hard work this weekend. They did a great job making adjustments and repairs. We didn’t get to qualify on Saturday and had only five minutes of practice. The FICO Camaro was a handful in the race but Randall Burnett kept making changes."

“We worked our way back into the lead lap and thought we could pick up a few more spots but unfortunately we hit the wall under caution on wets just before coming back to green after the rain delay and weren’t able to finish. We’ll take the FICO Chevy back to the shop to evaluate what happened and how we can improve on our New Hampshire package,” he added.

With only eight races left, Kyle Busch must leverage every opportunity to close the points gap and secure his playoff berth.