Kyle Busch Surpasses Richard Petty & Dale Earnhardt’s Record as He Continues 19-Year Long Streak

Unlike the drivers in Formula One, NASCAR drivers are some of the most durable racers out there, with insanely long careers stretching for more than four or more decades. For some, that’s an entire lifetime of being inside a car while you’re trying to beat the fiercest drivers ever. However, longevity doesn’t always translate into glory. The catch here is that the longer you stay around in racing, the greater the chances of getting pushed around by the rising younger talents.

Even the greats like “King” Richard Petty have been there, struggling to rack up a win towards the end of their careers. However, Kyle Busch is an exception. Even though he doesn’t have seven titles to his name, like Petty and the great Dale Earnhardt, Busch is the personification of durability and longevity. Despite being in the game since 2005, the “bad boy” has a streak going for him that even the legends of the sport could dream about.

Kyle Busch walks into NASCAR glory halls as he bests legends like Dale Earnhardt

For NASCAR fans, Dale Earnhardt, aka “The Intimidator,” is not just a late driver who had a glorious career but a symbol of resilience and the embodiment of true grit. Richard Petty, popularly known as “The King,” is also another icon who captivated fans during his reign from 1960 to 1977. Both have seven titles to their names, and they both left a mark on the sport that will forever be etched in its history, dominating it for years and racking up wins and titles like nothing.

Even with all the glory and might, there’s one aspect in which the “Rowdy” trumps over the greats. While Petty and Earnhardt are the pioneers of the sport, with a cult following and reminiscing about their good old days, 2-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch is a different animal altogether. Unlike the above-mentioned legends, Kyle Busch embraced his dark side, revealing his cocky self and backing it with sheer performance to become one of the sport’s greatest.

Kyle Busch’s longevity—and when we say longevity, Busch has the longest streak going on, winning a race in his 19 seasons in the Cup Series. He is one of the most successful racers in the history of the sport, passing his brother Kurt Busch to extend his streak and acing an event every season he steps inside a car.

Earnhardt did it for 15, Petty had that going for 18, and the legendary David Pearson went at it for 17 seasons between 1964 and 1980. According to the stats published by Sportsnaut, “Bad Boy” is on a 19-season streak, not missing a visit to the victory lane even while misfortune and bad luck did their thing. His streak from 2005 until the past season has him above the legends of the sport, and 2024 probably will be an extension of that.

WATCH THIS STORY: Kyle Busch clears the air regarding his Chilli Bowl participation in 2024 

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Busch’s bittersweet 2023 season

All that being said, the 38-year-old had a tumultuous 2023 season. While his fans were ecstatic to see their favorite driver start off the season on a high note, bouncing back from his dismal 2022 season with Joe Gibbs Racing, little did they know that their delight would be brief. Kyle Busch got in 3 impressive wins in the first half of the tournament but couldn’t do so in the later part.

Busch’s sudden fall from grace was a shocker for most fans as the #8 RCR Chevy struggled to hold its ground with inconsistency that plagued the team as well as the driver badly. Despite the 3 early wins, including the Speedway run at Talladega, Kyle Busch finished the season 14th, while he came in 13th in 2022, all while having just a win under his name.

READ MORE: Kyle Busch Clears the Air Regarding His Chili Bowl Participation in 2024