We all know that Kyle Busch doesn’t hold back, no matter the context. And if you thought wrecking in practice would mellow him out, think again. Just hours after slamming head-on into Iowa Speedway’s Turn 1 wall and watching his Chevy go up in flames, Busch was back in race mode with that signature fire still burning. The practice crash? Brutal. He was second-fastest on the charts, then suddenly sideways and airborne into a wall, flames licking the front of the No. 8.
But miraculously, he walked away, cleared by the medics, and didn’t miss a beat. So when tensions flared again mid-race (this time on pit road), you just knew Busch wasn’t going to play it cool. Let’s just say what came next wasn’t exactly PG-rated. And Alex Bowman found himself right in the middle of it.
Kyle Busch and Alex Bowman exchange gestures after pit road mix-up
Kyle Busch came into Sunday’s Iowa Corn 350 with a chip on his shoulder. And not just because of his fiery crash in practice. After slamming the wall and starting dead last in 37th, Busch managed to claw his way through the field, even scoring a strong fifth-place finish in Stage 2. But the real fireworks came under caution on pit road.
During a routine stop, Busch’s No. 8 entry triggered a logjam that slowed Alex Bowman’s approach. Bowman wasn’t thrilled, but if he thought Busch would apologize or back down, he clearly forgot who he was dealing with. Busch, still heated from earlier misfortunes, erupted over team radio: “Go tell the 48 to f— off. It’s a shi— situation, we all f—— s—. What do you want me to f—— do?” As if that wasn’t enough, he punctuated the moment by waving, likely not with all five fingers.
Full picture in the Kyle Busch/Alex Bowman deal: Busch had to stop wide in his stall because he was pitting right in-between the 48 and 99. Bowman had to back up leaving his stall because of that and wasn’t pleased.
Bowman gestured at Busch out his window. Busch gestured back. https://t.co/jyjdsaLXsh pic.twitter.com/1g8VioSfwt
— Steven Taranto (@STaranto92) August 4, 2025
Despite the drama, Busch fought hard to recover. Starting from the tail end of the field, he dragged his damaged backup car to a 20th-place finish at the end of the race. It wasn’t a disaster. But it also wasn’t what he needed. Now with just three regular-season races left and still outside the playoff cutoff in 18th, time is running out. Just like last year, Busch remains winless in 2025 as well, and desperately needs a breakthrough if he wants to avoid missing the postseason for a second consecutive year.
Sunday showed that the fight is still there, but unless that fire translates into a checkered flag, Kyle Busch’s playoff hopes may go up in smoke just like his car did on Saturday. The next three races, Watkins Glen, Richmond, and Daytona, are all vastly different beasts, and each presents a unique challenge for the No. 8 team. Busch has history at all three.
Can Kyle Busch rely on the past to shape his playoff future?
Kyle Busch’s playoff future hangs on three very different racetracks, and each tells a slightly different story about his chances.
First up: Watkins Glen. A place where Busch has shone in the past, boasting two career wins at the road course. But those victories came in a pre-Next Gen world. Since NASCAR introduced the new car, Busch hasn’t looked quite as comfortable, finishing outside the top 20 more often than not. With an average finish hovering around 25th, the Glen might not offer the lifeline he needs unless something clicks drastically.
Then there’s Richmond, a short track where Busch has built a legacy. He’s racked up six total wins here, and for years, it was considered one of his strongest tracks. But once again, the numbers since the Next Gen debut in 2022 tell a different tale: zero wins in six starts. Still, his knack for navigating Richmond’s rhythm-based racing can’t be dismissed, and a breakthrough performance isn’t out of the question.
Finally, we head to Daytona. If there’s ever a race that screams chaos, it’s this one. In 40 career starts, Busch has just one win. Again, none with the Next Gen car. Superspeedways are always a gamble, but his experience and racecraft give him at least a puncher’s chance if he’s there at the end.
So here’s the big question: Can past excellence overcome present struggles when everything’s on the line? With no wins and playoff hopes on life support, Kyle Busch has just three bullets left in the chamber. Will one of them hit the target?
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