Kyle Busch

If the NASCAR Cup Series has a villain, it’s Kyle Busch—at least half the fan base thinks so.

Busch is undeniably an elite talent. He and veteran Kevin Harvick are tied for the series lead in victories among active drivers with 60—good for the ninth all-time time.

No driver, however, has accumulated more wins than Busch in NASCAR’s top three national series combined. Despite severe limitations on his level of participation in recent years, Busch boasts 102 victories in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and 62 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, both records for those divisions.

Fast Facts:

• Full Name: Kyle Thomas Busch
• Nicknames: Rowdy; Candy Man
• Height: 6’1”
• Born: May 2, 1985
• Birthplace: Las Vegas, Nevada
• Other Interests: Kyle Busch Motorsports truck team; Samantha and Kyle Busch Bundle of Joy Fund, fostering awareness and support for those with infertility issues.

Career Highlights

• NASCAR Cup Series Champion in 2015 and 2019
• NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion in 2009
• 60 NASCAR Cup Series victories (ninth all-time, tied for most among active drivers)
• Series-record 102 NASCAR Xfinity career victories.
• Series-record 62 NASCAR Craftsman Truck career victories.
• Only driver to complete weekend triple (wins in all three series--Bristol in 2010, 2017).
• 18 straight Cup seasons with at least one win (tied with Richard petty for series record).
• NASCAR Cup All-Star Race winner in 2017
• NASCAR Cup Busch Clash winner in 2012 and 2021.

Kyle Busch Bio

Kyle Busch is widely regarded as one of the most intensely competitive, supremely talented drivers in the NASCAR garage—ever.

But with an abrasive attitude, particularly earlier in his career, Busch alienated a significant portion of the fan base. During driver introductions, he still receives the loudest chorus of boos from the grandstands.

His prolific victories, however, speak for themselves. He retired from NASCAR Xfinity Series after winning a record 102 races. Driving primarily for his own Kyle Busch Motorsports team, Busch has accumulated a record 62 wins in that series while supporting the efforts of development drivers in his stable.

Busch’s career is a litany of milestones. Starting his full-time Cup career with Hendrick Motorsports in 2005 at age 20, he accumulated four victories in his first three seasons, including the first victory in NASCAR’s Car of Tomorrow in 2007 at Bristol.  

Move to Joe Gibbs Racing Ignites Busch’s Career

Despite the promise he showed at Hendrick Motorsports, Busch’s ornery behavior with that organization led to a falling out with team owner Rick Hendrick.

Eager for a change of scene, Busch signed on with Joe Gibbs Racing for the 2008 season. With much to prove to his former owner, Busch won eight of the first 22 races that year, including the first-ever Cup victory for Toyota (March 9 at Atlanta Motor Speedway).

In 2010 at Bristol, Busch became the first driver (and to date the only driver) to win races in each of NASCAR’s top three national touring series at the same track on the same weekend. He repeated the feat at Bristol in 2017.

In 2015, Busch broke his right leg and left foot in a violent collision with the inside wall in the Xfinity season opener at Daytona and missed the first 11 Cup races. After returning to action at Charlotte, Busch won five of the final 25 races and secured his first Cup championship with a victory at Homestead-Miami.

Busch went on to win a second title in 2019, and until Joey Logano claimed the championship in 2022, Busch was the only active driver with multiple titles.

He fell on lean times in 2020, winning just once in the COVID-interrupted season. He posted just three more victories with Gibbs. In 2022, long-time sponsor M&M’s announced its departure from Busch’s car at the end of the season.

After fielding offers from a variety of teams, Busch opted to sign with Richard Childress Racing for the 2023 season—with more milestones in his sights.

With a victory in 2023, Busch would boast wins in 19 straight seasons, breaking a tie for the record with seven-time series champion Richard Petty. One more victory, and Kyle and Kurt Busch (34 wins) would become the most prolific pair of brothers in NASCAR history.

Currently, they are tied with Bobby and Donnie Allison with 94 victories.