Kyle Busch’s season has not been favorable by any stretch. In fact, it may be categorized as his worst season in his 20-year NASCAR Cup Series career.
Entering Monday’s event at Michigan Int’l Speedway, Busch hadn’t scored a top-five finish since Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway in May.
However, that changed with a stout race car and a sprinkle of strategy.
In the latter part of the FireKeepers Casino 400, the Richard Childress Racing driver ran strong at the front of the field, leading laps, winning Stage Two and showing signs that maybe his winless streak was bound to come to an end.
Though as the laps wound down, Busch and crew chief Randall Burnett had a decision to make — pit for four tires and salvage a top-10 finish or take two tires and go for the win.
Good day w my @RCRracing guys, gave me a great @Lucas_Oil 🎱 today. Just a lil too tight. See if we can make some magic next week.@TeamChevy l @ECRengines pic.twitter.com/YkusANk76u
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) August 19, 2024
They elected for two, which allowed the driver of the No. 8 Chevrolet to inherit the lead following the last green flag pit stop cycle.
Busch led 24 laps during the event, however, he’d surrender the lead to eventual winner Tyler Reddick before two overtime restarts allowed Busch to place fourth in what was a much-needed result for the two-time Cup Series champion.
“It was a good day overall for our No. 8 team,” Busch began. “Maybe needed a tick more speed, but it was a good top-eight car, so we got a little bit more out of that with the Lucas Oil Chevrolet.
“It was a good pit strategy by Randall (Burnett) and the guys to keep our track position and keep us upfront there. We took two tires there at the end and it wasn’t going to be ideal on those short restarts. We hung on OK and got a top five out of it.”
With two races left in the regular season, Busch is 18th on the NASCAR Playoffs grid, 93 markers out of the 16th and final spot.
He’ll need a victory at Daytona (Fla.) Int’l Speedway or Darlington (S.C.) Raceway to secure a berth into the postseason.