USA Today via Reuters
Sep 27, 2020; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Busch (18) leads driver Kevin Harvick (4) during the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports | Reuters
USA Today via Reuters
Sep 27, 2020; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Busch (18) leads driver Kevin Harvick (4) during the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports | Reuters
If Kyle Busch is to get through the Round of 12 of the Playoffs and make the final eight, he will need to do something he hasn’t before. Busch needs a strong performance in the playoff race at the Charlotte Roval if he is to overcome a 21-point deficit in the elimination race.
Watch What’s Trending Now!
Even before the current round kicked off, a frustrated Busch said he ‘will be eliminated’ in this round. Despite that being a serious possibility at Charlotte, Busch said he is ready to fight it out at a track where he has had multiple bad races in the past.
“That’s tongue-in-cheek talk and should be known as that. Coming from me, obviously. I say a lot of dumb (expletive),” Busch said during a media interaction. “It is what it is. And we’re going to go on this week and fight like hell and try to make it through.”
USA Today via Reuters
Sep 19, 2020; Bristol, Tennessee, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Busch (18) pits during the Nascar Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
What Kyle Busch feels he needs to do at the Charlotte Roval
Busch has entered the next round of Playoffs despite facing elimination in the cutoff race, on three past occasions. However, he has never done it from as many as 21 points behind the cutoff spot. He finished in 32nd and 37th places in the 2018 and 2019 playoff races at the Charlotte Roval.
While the Roval is another track that can throw in a lot of surprises, Busch said the key is to ‘stay out of trouble’.
“We’ve just got to keep ourselves out of trouble. That’s hard to do on such a tight circuit with a lot of stuff going on and a lot of guys making desperation moves. And us needing to make some desperation moves as well most likely,” Busch said of his chances on Sunday.
USA Today via Reuters
Sep 12, 2020; Richmond, Virginia, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Busch (18) races NASCAR Cup Series driver Austin Dillon (3) during the Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports | Credit: Reuters
A lot to fight for at the Charlotte Roval
The defending champion has a lot at stake this Sunday. The weight of extending his streak of 15 straight seasons with a win is still heavy on Busch. At the same time, if he is eliminated, he will become the first reigning champion who failed to make the Round of 8 since the onset of the Playoffs system in 2014.
Busch starts in ninth place at the Charlotte Roval. If he can indeed pull off a win at a track where he has suffered a record, that sets him up perfectly with just four more races remaining.
READ MORE- How the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Contenders Will Line up at the Charlotte Roval
