When Kyle “Rowdy” Busch stormed into Victory Lane at Kansas Speedway in 2016, claiming his third win at the track, few could have predicted the frustration that would consume NASCAR’s most outspoken driver just nine years later. The two-time Cup Series champion, known for his unfiltered radio communications and post-race interviews, has historically thrived on challenging tracks like Kansas. But the Next Gen car era has cast a shadow over Busch’s once-dominant presence, transforming the 40-year-old veteran into a vocal critic of NASCAR’s latest technological endeavor.

This past weekend at Kansas Speedway, that criticism reached a boiling point. After a promising run in Stage 1 that saw the No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet move through the field, Busch found himself stalled in 12th place during Stage 2. What followed was classic Rowdy – unfiltered, passionate, and brimming with frustration.

Busch’s Growing Frustration with Next Gen Era

“Unf—– believable,” Busch unleashed over the team radio, as reported by Tom Bowles of Frontstretch. “This car sucks so bad. Thank you, NASCAR.” The outburst wasn’t just typical driver frustration – it was the latest chapter in Busch’s ongoing battle with the Next Gen car and his mounting disappointment with the 2025 season.

The frustration had been building long before Sunday’s race. During Saturday’s qualifying session, Busch made contact with the outside wall, damaging the right side of his Chevrolet and relegating him to a 35th-place starting position. Over the radio, spotter Derek Kneeland couldn’t hide his disappointment when crew chief Randall Burnett revealed they were tracking for a potential fifth or sixth position before the incident. “Oh yeah,” Kneeland responded when asked about wall contact. “Right side’s [expletive] killed.”

The numbers tell the story of Busch’s 2025 struggles. Through the first 11 races, he started strong with three top-10 finishes in the first four events. Since then, he’s managed just one top-10 result (10th at Darlington) while collecting four finishes of 20th or worse. Meanwhile, his teammate Austin Dillon has surged with three consecutive top-10 finishes and four results inside the top 15 over the last six races. For a champion of Busch’s caliber, this performance gap has clearly become unacceptable.

The qualifying incident revealed deeper tensions within the RCR camp. After the wall contact, a frustrated Busch simply asked, “Do we have a garage number?” – a telling indication of his mindset heading into Sunday’s race, where he would start 15 positions behind his teammate.

Busch isn’t alone in his criticism of the Next Gen platform. As the most tenured full-time driver in the Cup Series, his outspoken nature has often made him the unofficial spokesperson for driver concerns. While some competitors have been more diplomatic in their assessments, many have privately echoed Busch’s frustrations about passing difficulty and handling inconsistencies.

The contrast between Busch’s struggles and Kyle Larson’s domination at Kansas further highlights the current competitive imbalance. As Busch fought for positions outside the top 10, Larson put on a clinic, making good on his Saturday warning that he had figured out the new Goodyear tires NASCAR introduced.

For NASCAR officials and fans alike, Busch’s continued criticism raises important questions about the Next Gen car’s development trajectory. Is this simply a case of a veteran driver struggling to adapt, or is “Rowdy” Busch pointing out legitimate flaws in NASCAR’s racing platform that need addressing? As the Cup Series moves forward, the answer might determine whether the sport’s most colorful character can find his way back to Victory Lane – or if his frustrations will continue to boil over on the airwaves.

Ultimately, Kyle Busch had a bad day at Kansas. So let’s pivot to a topic that brings back memories of Busch’s domination. The 2x Cup Series Champion was involved with his fierce rival in bringing news to NASCAR fans that had everyone jumping for joy!

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Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski’s NASCAR Commercial

NASCAR stars Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski, known for their intense rivalry, teamed up for a thrilling commercial promoting the 2026 NASCAR championship finale returning to Homestead-Miami Speedway. Filmed in a time-travelling DeLorean inspired by “Back to the Future,” the ad shocked fans with its fun and unexpected pairing. The high five they shared at the end was described by Busch as “weird” but well done, showing their professionalism. And with drivers having won their championships at Homestead, it’s no question that they were genuinely delighted to announce its return.

However, despite their convincing on-screen chemistry, Busch made it clear in the commercial that he and Keselowski are not friends, only colleagues. Their history of on-track clashes made their casting a bold choice, adding excitement to the commercial. The advertisement’s success came from their ability to set aside differences and deliver a strong performance.

The commercial’s clever pairing of rivals created a buzz among NASCAR fans, who were intrigued by the fictional future where Busch and Keselowski celebrated together. This strategic move by the producers highlighted the drivers’ acting skills and kept viewers talking. The ad proved that even rivals can shine together for a memorable moment.