“Really need it”: Kyle Busch looking forward to upcoming break amid disappointing NASCAR 2024 season

Kyle Busch himself is eager for the two-week Olympic break after what has been a rough regular Cup Series season so far in 2024. Drivers had one last shot to secure their playoff positions at the Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis before the NASCAR Cup series paused for the Olympics. Despite a strong showing for most of the race, Kyle Busch ended with yet another DNF.

The frustration was evident when, after the Indianapolis race, Busch took to X to post photos from the track featuring himself, his wife Samantha, and their daughter Lennix. His message echoed a mix of apology and exhaustion:

"Got right where we wanted to b w a good car and some really good pit calls. I’m really sorry to all my guys and RCR for crashing while trying to b aggressive and get them a top 5 finish. Ready for this two wk break. Really need it."

At the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Kyle Busch was on track for a much-needed top-10 finish at Sunday’s Brickyard 400, only for his hopes to be dashed prematurely. Running in P6, Busch attempted a low pass on Denny Hamlin, but his #8 RCR Chevy unexpectedly veered up, clipping Hamlin and sending Busch crashing into the Turn 3 wall. His car then spun and hit the outside barrier hard.

While Hamlin's #11 Toyota escaped damage, he had to pit due to running low on fuel. Before this incident, Kyle Busch had climbed from P33 to contend within the top ranks.

The result extended his winless streak to 43 races and diminished his chances of making the playoffs. It also marked Busch's sixth DNF in his last eight races.

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Kyle Busch opened up about the struggles with his RCR cars during a challenging season

While speaking candidly on The Pat McAfee Show, Busch didn't hold back regarding the performance issues of his #8 car. It's been 43 races since his last NASCAR win at Gateway, at World Wide Technology Raceway. Addressing his car's current form, Kyle Busch was straightforward. He shared:

"Our cars have not been that great right now. We're working on it. I mean we've come to a lot of things of what we're kind of learning about and figuring out. Last year, we were good. Like I joined RCR, we won three of the first 15 12, 15 races or something like that, it was pretty good and then we we haven't won since. So it's been a bit of a dry spell so we're working on it." [at 7:53]

Currently in his second season with Richard Childress Racing, Kyle Busch is enduring one of the toughest stretches of his career. He hasn't taken the checkered flag in any races, and just crossing the finish line has become a challenge. Between run-ins with other drivers, pit crew errors, lacking speed, or his own slip-ups, it's been a rough ride for the 39-year-old veteran.