The odds are against two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch heading into this Sunday.
The Round of 12 ends next weekend at the Charlotte Roval and four drivers will be eliminated from the playoff chase depending on the outcome of the race.
Those currently on the cutline heading into Sunday are Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace, Ross Chastain, and Busch. While Reddick (-2) and Wallace (-3) are pretty close to the cutline, Chastain (-10) and Busch (-26) find themselves in need of some serious help.
Busch finished 25th in last Sunday’s Cup playoff race at Talladega and he knows that didn’t help his standing very much.
“When I could make moves, get in good positions, and put myself in good spots, I could get up towards the front,” Busch said. “My chess match is apparently horrible or I get hung out every time it comes down to the end and we just lose spots.”
If he wants to advance to the Round of 8, Busch will need to do a lot for himself and get some help as well. More than anything, he needs to win next weekend, which is no small feat given the last time he won a Cup race on a road course was in 2015. Short of that, he’s going to need multiple drivers in front of him to have some very bad days.
“That’s our last shot,” Busch said of next week’s race, “so we’ll see what we get.”
