"I'm just not their driver" - When Kyle Busch reflected on seeing Joe Gibbs & Co. on the track after leaving JGR for Richard Childress

Kyle Busch started driving the No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Richard Childress Racing (RCR) after leaving Joe Gibbs Racing in 2023. Busch drove Joe Gibbs Racing's No.18 Toyota for 15 years before switching to RCR last year.

In an interview with NASCAR’s Alex Weaver in 2023, Busch looked back on his first year with RCR and talked about his old teammates.

When asked about seeing Joe Gibbs and his old JGR teammates at the track, Busch described the experience as awkward and added that he still talks to some of them, including his former crew chief Nate.

"Awkward, but like the crew guys and stuff like that, that, you know, are on the 54 car. You know, I’d go up to them and talk to them every once in a while. My car chief, Nate, I’ve always been super close with him. And so, just, you know, seeing those guys still at the racetrack—they’re going about their work and their job, and I’m just not their driver," Busch said (1:27).

Busch won two Cup championships and 56 races with Joe Gibbs since joining the team in 2008 but they could not agree on a new contract after his long-time sponsor, M&M Mars, left NASCAR. Busch also reportedly offered to take a pay cut but eventually decided to move on.

The 39-year-old earned only one win in his last year with the team in 2022. However, Busch started the 2023 season with a win at Fontana in the Lucas Oil Camaro and secured another big win at Talladega.

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Kyle Busch still winless this season after chaos at Watkins Glen

Kyle Busch missed the playoffs for the first time in 11 years this season and is now looking to uphold his 19-year streak of at least one race win every season.

Going into last weekend's race, Busch had a four-race streak of top-10 finishes. He also had a strong record at Watkins Glen with two wins and 13 top-10 finishes in 18 races there.

However, the last playoff race at Watkins Glen was chaotic from start to finish. On the first lap, Kyle Busch and Corey LaJoie collided at the bus stop turn. Busch spun out from the collision and affected other drivers as well. Ryan Blaney was knocked out of the race early and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. had to retire as well. Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski continued racing but with damage to their cars.

Busch finished the race in 30th place and failed to maintain his seasonal winning streak at yet another race.