The roar of Memorial Day weekend in 2014 brought a unique kind of thrill for Kyle Busch. But it wasn’t because he was racing. It was because his older brother, Kurt Busch, was about to do what only a few drivers had dared: attempt “The Double.” Kurt would take on both the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. For Kyle, it was more than just watching his brother from the sidelines. It was personal pride.
“We gave it our all. To feel the stock car right after driving an INDYCAR was a day I’ll never forget,” Kurt said after the grueling day. That day, Kurt impressed everyone. He finished sixth at Indy in a car from Andretti Autosport. Then, just hours later, he flew down to Charlotte. The transition wasn’t easy. His Coca-Cola 600 ended with a blown engine and a 40th-place finish, but he entered an elite list of drivers. He completed 906 out of 1,100 miles, earning Indy 500 Rookie of the Year honors. His brother, Rowdy Busch, watched it all, filled with admiration.
“It’s the fun. It’s the challenge of a different car on a different race track and trying to go after one of the biggest races in the country,” he had said then. That was over a decade ago. Since then, Kyle Busch has won Cup championships, two of them. Yet, unlike his brother, he hasn’t made his Double debut. Time keeps ticking. The opportunity remains elusive. Now, 12 years after Kurt’s attempt, Kyle’s waiting, and watching, as Kyle Larson steps up to take the challenge.
Kyle Busch roots for Larson to get a call!
In 2014, days after his brother’s historic Double attempt, Kyle Busch revealed his intentions to give it a try. However, he had a catch. “I’ve thought about doing that for years. ‘I’ve always said that I wouldn’t do it until I’ve gotten a Cup championship, which Kurt has (but) I don’t have… I hope he has fun with it. Hope he doesn’t get too worn out,” he had said. Since then, he has won two Cup Series titles and has accumulated more than 200 race wins across the national series.
But he hasn’t attempted yet. Many fans had accepted that Busch might have dropped the plan, considering how gruelling it can be. But Rowdy has a message. Ahead of Kyle Larson’s 2025 Double Attempt, Busch said, “I wouldn’t say I’ve given up on it, but the phone hasn’t been ringing. So yeah. I think Larson got the seat I was supposed to get for the last two years.” Busch had reasons for the jab.
Kyle Busch wouldn’t rule out an Indy 500-Coke 600 double but he said his phone hasn’t been ringing about it. @NASCARONFOX pic.twitter.com/lrZbh0PjYT
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) May 11, 2025
His current team, Richard Childress Racing, reportedly showed interest in backing a Double run in both 2023 and 2024. But instead of Busch, Arrow McLaren partnered with Rick Hendrick and Larson. That decision shut Busch out. He’s now 40, with time and opportunity slipping fast. His contract with RCR ends this year, and talks for a renewal remain stalled. Still, he isn’t bitter. In fact, He’s rooting for Larson. “Yeah, I root for him. I wish him well in that endeavor,” Busch said.
It’s a rare moment of sportsmanship, even among rivals. Busch knows how tough the feat is. He watched Kurt pull it off in 2014 and respects the challenge. “I know how hard it probably is. I’ve never done it, but I can guess… Larson’s probably one of the best guys to have over there,” he said. Notably, Larson’s attempt comes after last year’s disappointment. Despite making a furious start to the Indy 500, Larson had to settle for 18th after a pit lane penalty.
However, his biggest setback came in Charlotte, where he failed to participate in the Coca-Cola 600 as a rain interruption ended it prematurely. This year, if Kyle Larson finishes strong and chooses not to return in 2026, that seat might finally be up for grabs. “Whether that seat’s open for next year, I’m not sure. I haven’t really ventured into that, but those conversations pretty much take place in July, August… they try to get done before December,” Busch said. Translation: He’s not done dreaming, just waiting for his chance.
For now, Busch will watch from home in Charlotte. He’ll hope Larson succeeds, and quietly wonder what could have been. He knows if Larson can complete it, maybe team owners will finally look his way. Maybe, just maybe, he will get to follow in his brother’s footsteps and create a legacy of his own at Indy. But not all of Busch’s moments have been filled with tension or regret. In fact, at Kansas Speedway, he had one of his lightest and funniest moments in a while, and it involved a prank on fellow driver Brad Keselowski.
Busch’s Kansas Prank Brings the Paddock to Laughter
Kyle Busch may have unfinished business with the Indy 500, but he hasn’t lost his sense of humor. At Kansas Speedway this weekend, he delivered one of the funniest moments of the race weekend. While tensions often run high between drivers, Busch and Brad Keselowski showed fans that the garage can still have a light-hearted side. The moment started as the drivers prepared for qualifying, when Keselowski stepped away from his car for a quick break.
In classic Busch style, he took advantage of the moment. With a sly grin and zero hesitation, Busch snuck up to Keselowski’s No. 6 Ford and stuck a large “FOR SALE” sign on the rear bumper. The sign had a fake phone number and the message “Runs fine, just a loud driver.” Within minutes, the paddock was roaring with laughter. Even Keselowski had to crack a smile when he returned. When asked about it later, Busch didn’t hold back.
“Yeah, I did it. Brad talks a lot, figured I’d help him sell that ride if he wanted out. Just having a little fun. You gotta keep things loose sometimes,” he said. Keselowski responded with his own quip, saying, “At least he didn’t put my number on it.” The NASCAR world often sees Busch as intense, sharp-tongued, and focused. But this moment reminded everyone that behind the competitive edge, there’s still a guy who loves to laugh and stir the pot.
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