NASCAR: Kyle Busch has officially changed his mind
By Asher Fair
Kyle Busch retired from NASCAR Xfinity Series competition after reaching 100 wins. But now he is officially back, driving for Kaulig Racing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
For many years, Kyle Busch had said that he planned to stop competing in NASCAR Xfinity Series races once he became a 100-time winner at the sport’s second highest level.
Already the all-time winningest driver in Xfinity Series history, and by a wide margin, he reached that mark in 2021. He started the year with 97 wins and went five for five, bringing his career win total to 102.
He stuck to his promise, and the 2022 season was his first without any starts in the Xfinity Series since 2002, which was before he made his series debut.
Now it’s official: NASCAR Xfinity Series retirement didn’t last long for Kyle Busch.
Busch, who left Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota after 15 years this past offseason, now competes full-time for Richard Childress Racing in the Cup Series, and he is set to compete in Saturday’s Xfinity Series, the Alsco Uniforms 300, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the Richard Childress Racing-affiliated Kaulig Racing.
The 37-year-old Las Vegas, Nevada native’s most recent Xfinity Series start at the four-turn, 1.5-mile (2.414-kilometer) oval came back in 2019. He won that race.
Busch isn’t just returning to the Xfinity Series for one race, either. Just as he used to, he is set to compete in the maximum allowable race total for Cup Series drivers with more than three years of experience, and that number is currently set at five.
In addition to Saturday’s race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, he is set to compete in the races at Phoenix Raceway on Saturday, March 11; Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 27; Watkins Glen International on Saturday, August 19; and Darlington Raceway on Saturday, September 2.
He is set to enter Saturday’s 200-lap race riding a five-race Xfinity Series win streak and a two-race overall NASCAR win streak. He hasn’t competed in the Xfinity Series since going five for five in 2021, and he won this past Sunday’s Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway as well as yesterday night’s Truck Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
dark. Next. All-time NASCAR Cup Series wins list
The Alsco Uniforms 300 is set to be broadcast live on Fox Sports 1 from Las Vegas Motor Speedway beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET this afternoon. Busch is the clear betting favorite to win the race. Begin a free trial of FuboTV now and don’t miss it!