Kyle Busch compares his Bristol racing approach to late NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Sr: “Neither one of us would see the checkered flag”

Although Kyle Busch has not amassed as many championships as the iconic Dale Earnhardt, comparisons between the two persist, especially concerning their performances. For instance, "Rowdy," boasts eight victories from 35 starts at Bristol, the most among current drivers. In contrast, Dale Earnhardt Sr. secured nine wins at Bristol across 43 appearances, with the track being the site of his first Cup Series triumph.

As the NASCAR playoffs' Round of 16 finale approaches at Bristol Motor Speedway, NASCAR on NBC stirred nostalgia by posing a hypothetical to fans in March 2024 on social media: who would win at Bristol if Earnhardt Sr. and Kyle Busch were to compete head-to-head?

Amidst fervent fan speculation, Busch himself entered the conversation, sharing his thoughts on the imaginative matchup.

"Neither one of us would see the checkered."

Kyle Busch, now behind the wheel of the same car number once made famous by Dale Earnhardt, is set to compete at Bristol Motor Speedway with an impressive record. On Saturday, September 21, 2024, Busch will make an entry at Bristol Motor Speedway for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race with an average finish of 14.2, having led 2,597 laps there—over 100 more than his tally at Richmond, where he has recorded his second-highest lap count.

However, the record for the most victories at Bristol remains with Darrell Waltrip, who stands alone with 12 wins on this famed track, the only driver to surpass the ten-win milestone there.

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Kyle Busch shared his sentiments on encountering his former Joe Gibbs Racing team on the track

The current #8 Richard Childress Racing driver described the experience of seeing his old teammates as "awkward" since his departure over a year ago to join Richard Childress Racing. Having been a prominent figure at Joe Gibbs Racing, where he raced the #18 car for 15 years and amassed 56 wins starting in 2008, the transition happened due to challenges including sponsorship issues that prompted his move in 2022.

Reflecting on his interactions, Kyle Busch expressed a sense of familiarity mingled with distance:

"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," he revealed. [at 1:27]

Now driving the #8 Chevy, for the first time since 2012, Kyle Busch did not qualify for the playoffs. Despite this, he remains focused on continuing his two-decade streak of securing at least one win each season.