NASCAR: Kyle Busch frustrated, ‘wish we had practice’

By Asher Fair | Jul 17, 2020

Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing, NASCAR, Cup Series (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

Kyle Busch has not been shy about voicing his frustration regarding not having any practice sessions since NASCAR returned to action in mid-May.

Since NASCAR returned to action from the unexpected 10-week hiatus caused by the coronavirus pandemic, 13 races have been contested. But unlike in a normal season, none of those 13 races featured any practice sessions, and it is unknown when the next practice session will be held.

Several drivers have benefited from having no practice beforehand, but others have suffered. Among the most notable drivers who have suffered is two-time and reigning Cup Series champion Kyle Busch of Joe Gibbs Racing.

Busch is still seeking his first win since he won the 2019 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway to win last year’s title. This is his only win in the last 13 and a half months, and he simply hasn’t had the speed to compete at the front this season. He has led just 139 laps, and 100 of those laps led came in one race. He has not yet won a stage.

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If the playoffs, which are still nine races away, were to start today, Busch, who sits in 11th place in the championship standings, would be tied for last place in points among the 16 playoff drivers with Wood Brothers Racing’s Matt DiBenedetto.

All of the other non-winners in the playoff picture have at least one playoff point aside of Busch and DiBenedetto, and neither Busch nor DiBenedetto are in the top 10 in points, which would net them bonus playoff points at the end of the regular season.

Asked if he felt that he can still turn his 2020 season around, the driver of the #18 Toyota outlined that he knows it can be done despite his recent frustrations with having no practice time since NASCAR returned to action.

“Absolutely, I know what I’m capable of and what Adam [Stevens] and our team can do,” Busch told Beyond the Flag. “It’s certainly been frustrating and wish we had just a little bit of practice to be able to work out some of the things. But that’s not the case right now. I know everyone is working as hard as they can right now and we’ll keep digging.”

When he does turn his year around, whether practice is added to the schedule or not, Busch thinks he knows the two main contenders he will need to beat week in and week out.

“Since the season came back in May, Kevin [Harvick] and Denny [Hamlin] certainly have been running the best,” he said. “We’ve had some other guys mix in here or there, but those two teams have really stood out. There’s a lot of season left and things change as far as what teams and organizations competing for wins, so there’s way to much racing left to be able to predict what the end of the season is going to look like.”

Kevin Harvick drives the #4 Ford for Stewart-Haas Racing while Denny Hamlin is a teammate of Busch and drives the #11 Toyota. Busch, Harvick and Hamlin were all in last year’s Championship 4, as was Joe Gibbs Racing’s Martin Truex Jr. Harvick and Hamlin have both won a series-high four races this year.

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The next race is scheduled to take place at Texas Motor Speedway, where Busch is a three-time winner and won most recently in April of 2018. This race, the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500, is set to be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network beginning at 3:00 p.m. ET this Sunday, July 19.

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