Busch’s 2025 campaign has been one of the toughest stretches of his Cup Series career. Statistically speaking, he ran 36 races in the season, posted zero wins, and reached only three top-5s and ten top-10s. His average finish floated around 18. Given that he’s a two-time Cup Series champion and one of the winningest active drivers, those numbers mark a clear step back from his peak years.

He and his No. 8 Chevrolet team with Richard Childress Racing have been working hard behind the scenes to reclaim his legendary speed and consistency. Even with that backdrop, the tone of his tweet after the championship race at Phoenix shows a lot of heart and focus on the future. He celebrates his “Top 5” win at the flat oval as an end-of-season goal, and he thanks “#RowdyNation & all of our partners” for sticking with the team.

“Top 5 to end the season!! Proud of this (No. 8) team for never giving up, hopefully the last few weeks are what’s to come in 2026! Thank you to #RowdyNation & all of our partners that were on board this year, couldn’t do it without ya!!!” he tweeted. 

That tells us two things: one, Kyle Busch knows the performance hasn’t been where he or the team wants it, and two, he still sees potential and wants to build momentum heading into 2026. Finding that momentum is essential if he wants to erase the recent frustrations.

For someone who’s achieved so many top-class feats, his happiness in purely celebrating his top-5 finish at Phoenix shows his humbleness and how he has a realistic mindset to progress slowly and steadily.

Busch’s 2025 season ends with a 93-race winless streak, the longest of his career. For the Phoenix race, he started from the 11th position but ended Stage 1 in 20th. Stage 2 put him further down at 26th, but he finally picked up form in that final stage, cruising from there to finish the race top 5. His wife Samantha also took to X to share her happiness, “Top 5 to finish out the season, love to see it! Can’t wait for next year!”

Another interesting development: late in the season, Busch’s team announced a crew-chief change. As of the final five races of 2025, Andy Street took over from the previous longtime crew chief. That kind of shake-up signals a willingness to reset and try something new, especially when you’ve been unable to get back to victory lane.

Kyle Busch clearly isn’t hiding from that; he’s embracing the fix. So when you read his message, “hopefully the last few weeks are what’s to come in 2026”, understand this isn’t a throw-away line. It’s a statement of intent.

After a season with big legacy baggage, zero wins, and only modest finishes, Busch is turning his focus to the future. He’s anchoring on improvement, team effort, and keeping his partners engaged. If 2025 was the reset, then 2026 may just be his year to climb back toward the top.

The Phoenix finale gave Rowdy Nation a spark. Busch crossed the line in the top five on his 750th Cup start, a huge milestone that few active drivers have hit. It capped a year without wins but showed the old fire still burns. Rowdy Nation felt it too, flooding X with cheers and hope for next year.

Fan reactions light the fire

“Outta boy Rowdy! 750th start and ends the season with a top 5, that’s how you end the season! Most certainly looking forward to 2026! Proud of you, buddy! Enjoy the off-season!” Kyle Busch’s top-five finish at Phoenix capped off a milestone season, his 750th career NASCAR Cup Series start.

That’s a remarkable feat few active drivers have achieved, underlining his longevity and resilience since debuting full-time in 2005 with Hendrick Motorsports. Busch’s 2025 campaign ended without a win, but that final top-five showed flashes of the “Rowdy” that fans have long loved.

It was a much-needed lift for a driver who battled inconsistency all year with Richard Childress Racing. Busch’s 2025 stat line, three top-fives, ten top-tens, and an average finish of 17.9, was his lowest since 2014, but ending strong gave both him and the No. 8 team momentum heading into 2026. For a veteran with 63 career Cup wins and two championships (2015, 2019), the Phoenix performance offered a sense of closure and a glimpse of hope for better days ahead.

“Great job, Kyle, bouncing back from the tire issue in the race. Way to get yourself in the top. Team made some great strides to finding success next year.” Busch’s drive to the top five didn’t come easy; it came after an early setback.

During the Phoenix finale, the No. 8 Chevrolet fought through a mid-race tire vibration that forced him to pit off-sequence, dropping him outside the top fifteen. But the team rebounded thanks to smart adjustments from interim crew chief Andy Street, who took over in the final stretch of the season after RCR shuffled leadership to spark performance.

The recovery to finish top five showed real grit and problem-solving, traits that could make the difference in 2026. It was also proof of progress; RCR found more speed in the final month after experimenting with setups at Homestead and Martinsville. For a driver used to contending for wins, the bounce-back meant more than a number; it showed the team was still fighting hard, even when the year hadn’t gone their way.

“Indeed! Looking forward to a great ’26 season for you! Mof, we saw you win both your championships at Homestead, and next year we’re going back there, so you are gonna win again lol! Enjoy your sweet family during your downtime.”

Fans are right to be optimistic. Busch has history on his side. Both of his Cup Series titles came at Homestead-Miami Speedway (2015 and 2019), and NASCAR’s return to Homestead as the 2026 Championship finale has sparked talk of a potential “Rowdy” redemption arc.

Busch has always excelled on 1.5-mile tracks, and Homestead’s worn surface suits his throttle control and tire management. The 40-year-old also values his off-season family time, often seen spending the winter with wife Samantha and their kids Brexton and Lennix at their North Carolina home or at junior karting events supporting Brexton’s racing journey.

The upcoming winter break gives Busch time to reset mentally, reflect on a challenging 2025 season, and come back stronger, something he’s done before after slumps in 2012 and 2020.

“You and Keselowski really needed a high note to end the season on, and I’m glad you got at least something positive!”

That comment hits the nail on the head; both Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski were searching for redemption in 2025. The two veterans, both former champions, went winless for much of the season despite showing glimpses of front-running speed. Keselowski, co-owner/driver of RFK Racing, almost won at Phoenix, but Ryan Blaney took the lead on the last lap, making him finish a solid second.

For Busch, finishing in the top five alongside another veteran fighting to return to form symbolized perseverance more than victory. Both have been staples of the sport for over 15 years, and their closing performances reminded fans that experience and teamwork still matter in an era dominated by younger talent like William Byron and Ty Gibbs.

Rowdy Nation clings to that top five. It’s a spark. Busch’s tweet fuels it. Crew change, family reset, Homestead return, pieces line up for him. 2026 calls loud.