Kyle Busch just can’t catch a break at Daytona, and it was the same old story in Atlanta, where he almost grabbed a playoff spot but ended up finishing P3, marking one of the most memorable finishes NASCAR’s ever seen. So far, 2024’s been pretty good to him, but Rowdy’s setting the bar even higher. After snagging three wins last year, he’s definitely on the hunt for more victories and aiming for steadier performance all season long.

Now, as Kyle Busch heads back to his stomping grounds in Las Vegas this weekend, there’s a bit of a sting he’s carrying with him—that nagging feeling of finishing third more often than he’d like. Want to know why?

Why is Rowdy ‘frustrated’ ahead of Las Vegas weekend?

Racing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, right in his own backyard, hasn’t always felt like a warm hug from the locals. Busch has kind of relished playing the villain, so flipping to a crowd-pleaser might feel a bit odd to him.

Since 2021 in Las Vegas, Busch has been nailing an average finish of 5.0 across six races, with five top-5s to his name. But a Cup win has eluded him there since 2009. On the other hand, he did snag a win in the Truck Series race in Vegas last year and holds the record with 230 wins across all three NASCAR series. He’s hitting the track again this Friday night for the Victoria’s Voice 200 Truck Series, behind the wheel of the #7 Chevrolet Silverado for Spire Motorsports. And after that, he would be aiming to score his second Cup victory in Vegas.

With five top-five finishes in the last six races at this 1.5-mile track, including four third-place spots as his best outcomes, Busch is feeling the itch. As reported by ‘Review Journal’, he said, “It’s been, oh, so close, but no trophy. So that’s really frustrating. Of course, being my hometown, it means a lot to be able to run well and have a good finish there. I’m kind of tired of the third place.”

Kyle Busch really gets how kicking off the season on the right foot can set the vibe for the whole year. He’s aiming to win over the folks back home this time around. Over the offseason, Busch and his crew dove into their notes from last season, looking to build on what worked and fix what didn’t.

He’s got a lot of respect for his crew chief, Randall Burnett, thanks to Burnett’s open-minded approach and racing background, which gives him a unique perspective from the driver’s seat. Busch feels this has helped them gel well. Reflecting on snagging third place last fall, Busch sees it as a sign they were on the up and up, helping them gear up for this week.

READ MORE: Kyle Busch Believes Maybe the End of His NASCAR Career Is Near, as Fans Begin to Back Him Up

The one-time NASCAR badboy is keeping his fingers crossed that all this prep might just land him another win at his home turf, especially after coming so close in Atlanta. Busch also shared a little secret of his, too. First thing when he hits Las Vegas? “When you get off the plane, you go to In-N-Out. That’s the secret,” Kyle Busch said while laughing. And with him currently leading the Cup standings, he’s riding a wave of momentum that just might carry him to victory in Las Vegas.

Kyle Busch stands first in the cup standings for the first time since joining RCR

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Just two races into the 2024 Cup Series season, and Kyle Busch has already snagged the top spot in the driver points standings for the first time since teaming up with RCR. And he’s done it without taking the checkered flag in either race. Right now, Busch is just one point ahead of HMS’s William Byron, who’s hot on his heels in second place, with Austin Cindric not far behind.

The best Busch had done in the points race since joining RCR was landing in third after the July Atlanta race last year. Now, after a four-year wait, he’s leading the pack for the first time since clinching his second championship back in 2019. With twenty-five starts at Las Vegas under his belt, Busch has managed to pull off one win, 12 top-5 finishes, 15 top-10 finishes, and an average finish spot of 10.6.

Sure, his annoyance at consistently landing just shy of first place is understandable, but keeping cool and sticking to his racing style might just be the key to turning those near misses into victories.

Read More: Kyle Busch Motorsports Forced to Take Legal Action Against Truck Series Partner Over $325,000 in Outstanding Payments