Kyle Busch has never shied from speaking his mind, but NASCAR’s two-time champion is facing a challenge even he can’t outdrive: mastering the Next Gen car. In a candid interview, the Richard Childress Racing star admitted the new model has forced him to rethink everything — from setup adjustments to his core racing instincts.
With 232 national series wins, Busch’s expertise is unmatched. Yet the Next Gen’s complexities have humbled him, sparking late-night talks with rivals and existential questions about adaptability.
Kyle Busch’s Next Gen Struggles Expose Communication Breakdown
Busch built his legacy on granular feedback. For years, he’d bark orders to crews — change a spring, tweak a shock, adjust a sway bar — but the Next Gen’s standardized parts and limited adjustments have muted his voice.
“I’ve definitely had to take more of a backseat role on calling out adjustments,” Busch told Kevin Harvick on “NASCAR on Fox.”
“But 1742173481 for me to be able to pinpoint and tell them, like, we got to change a spring or a shock or a bar or this or that, I’m out. A lot of times, I say things, and I’m backwards.”
His recent experiment, lowering left rear tire pressure to tighten handling, worked, but such wins are rare.
Rowdy is going for a return to Victory Lane in his hometown.@KyleBusch joins @KevinHarvick for a conversation about the Next Gen car and whether Vegas could snap his winless streak. pic.twitter.com/I91uKD943O
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 16, 2025
The frustration isn’t isolated. Busch revealed private conversations with Chase Elliott, another driver raised on late-model precision.
“We grew up the same way, like racing super late models across the country and those style of cars,” Busch said. “I’m like, ‘Man, have you found this thing to just be a beast?’ And he’s like, ‘Yeah, I’ve had to change my driving style;’ just like what you just said.”
“And I’m like, ‘I don’t know how to do that,’” he added pointing to what Kevin Harvick said earlier in that conversation about him having to change his driving style.
Busch’s Next Gen Adaptation Struggles Despite Vegas’ Unforgiving Variables
Elliott’s admission mirrors Busch’s plight. Both champions now wrestle with a car that rewards patience over aggression. “It’s been a heck of an evolution,” Busch said. “Especially as we get older.”
Adaptation isn’t just about the car. At Las Vegas, Busch faces the weather’s fickle impact. Spring’s cold temperatures alter track grip compared to fall’s scorched asphalt.
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“The track reacts differently versus the fall race here [the South Point 400], where you’re coming off of summertime; all the summer heat, the ground being hotter, the track being different, the bumps being different,” he explained. “So, just kind of getting accustomed to all of those things and getting reacclimated with all of that.”
For Busch, the variables stack up — limited adjustments, aging instincts. Even under hometown pressure, he’s winless at Las Vegas since 2009. Yet the fire remains; after 20 seasons, Busch still chases that elusive balance between old-school grit and Next Gen nuance. Whether he finds it could define his legacy or end it.
