CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Kyle Busch, the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, is rediscovering his racing mojo on the quarter-mile frontstretch oval at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where he’s racked up a half dozen victories in the Masters Division of the 2025 Cook Out Summer Shootout. These wins in June and July have injected new life into Busch’s season, boosting his confidence and propelling him back into the NASCAR Cup Series playoff hunt, even without a Cup win this year.
Kyle Busch, baby.
Busch, piloting the No. 51 Lucas Oil Legend Car, kicked off the Summer Shootout with a statement, dominating Round 1 on June 10 from pole to checkered flag for his first Legends win in over 20 years. He followed with back-to-back victories on June 17 and June 24, showcasing his veteran savvy in caution-filled races. On July 22, Busch charged from the back of the field to win Round 9, navigating traffic with precision to seize the lead with three laps remaining. “It wasn’t easy,” Busch said after the July 22 triumph. “Working from the back to the front was absolutely cool to watch.”
These Legends races, part of a 10-race showcase featuring eight divisions of Legend Cars and Bandoleros, have doubled as a mentorship platform for Busch. His 10-year-old son, Brexton, competes in the Bandits division, notching six wins this season, including a thrilling Round 9 victory by 0.142 seconds over James Behnke. Busch’s guidance has clearly shaped Brexton’s rise, with the elder Busch offering trackside advice and even racing head-to-head with his son in sprint cars at Millbridge Speedway earlier this year.
The confidence from these grassroots victories is translating to Busch’s Cup Series campaign with Richard Childress Racing. After a winless 2024 season snapped his 19-year streak of consecutive seasons with a victory, Busch sits on the playoff bubble in 2025, just 39 points behind Bubba Wallace for the final postseason spot with six regular-season races left. His fifth-place finish at the Chicago Street Course and a top-10 at Sonoma show renewed momentum.
Busch, 40, remains a fierce competitor in the No. 8 Chevrolet, paired with crew chief Randall Burnett for a third season. While he hasn’t found Victory Lane in Cup this year, his Legends dominance has rekindled the fire that fueled 63 career Cup wins and championships in 2015 and 2019. “Rowdy” is banking on his road-course prowess at tracks like Sonoma, where he’s won twice, to secure a playoff berth either by points or a long-awaited 2025 victory at The Glen.
As Busch mentors Brexton and battles for a postseason spot, his Summer Shootout success has reminded fans and rivals alike of his enduring talent. With the final Summer Shootout round looming on July 29, Busch’s resurgence at Charlotte could be the spark that carries him—and the Busch family legacy—back to NASCAR’s biggest stage, whether that’s a win at Daytona in the regular season finale, where he finished P2 last year or elsewhere.
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