We continue our ‘Kyle Busch Remembered’ series as NASCAR takes on New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Busch earned 12 national-level wins at the ‘Magic Mile’ with three in Cup Series, six in the O’Reilly Series, and three in the Craftsman Truck Series.
Those dozen victories count among his 234 career NASCAR wins across the three national divisions — more than any other driver in history. Busch died unexpectedly at the age of 41, just days removed from his final victory.
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Since then, we’ve been highlighting his most impressive, memorable, or even infamous moments at whatever track is up next on the NASCAR Cup schedule.
We’ve already covered Atlanta, Sonoma, Nashville, Michigan, Pocono, Chicagoland, Indianapolis, and Richmond, which you can find by clicking the names of each track as mentioned. Now, here’s a look back at Rowdy’s most unforgettable moments at New Hampshire…
Kyle Busch New Hampshire NASCAR Stats
NASCAR CUP: 34 starts / 3 wins / 3 poles / 11 top fives / 16 top tens / 1134 laps led
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O’REILLY: 12 starts / 6 wins / 4 poles / 9 top fives / 10 top tens / 740 laps led
TRUCKS: 8 starts / 3 wins / 2 poles / 4 top fives / 6 top tens / 514 laps led
2021 Cup: Wrecking from the lead in the rain … and hitting the pace car
It’s not a moment Busch was happy with, but it sure was iconic. Busch started this race from pole position, but he was out of it just a few laps into the event. The cause? Rain began to fall and NASCAR officials didn’t notice in time, sending Busch into the wall from the race lead. Of course, he was furious, and infamously bumped the pace car afterwards, crinkling the rear bumper. “I don’t believe I would do that,” said Steve Letarte from the broadcast booth. “I wouldn’t either, that’s definitely going to draw the attention of NASCAR there,” added Dale Jr. as they watched the scene unfold, but that’s Rowdy for you. And hey, he got his nickname from Days of Thunder, and wasn’t one of the more famous lines from that film about going out there and hitting the pace car?
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2018 Cup: Tense battle with Kevin Harvick for the win
It was a true clash of titans as Kevin Harvick in the ‘Busch Beer’ car tried to find a way by Kyle Busch’s green No. 18 in the closing laps. After a few bumps, Harvick finally ran out of patience and knocked Busch up the track, snatching the win away from the man who truly hated to lose. “How you race is how you get raced,” said KB with a half-smile.
2015 Cup: Part of an unstoppable summer run by KB (and an epic pass)
While on his way to his first NASCAR Cup title, Busch’s remarkable 2015 season featured a wildly impressive summer stretch as he tried to claw his way inside the top 30 after missing the first third of the year with a leg injury. (At the time, a win and being top 30 in points was enough to make the playoffs). Busch did just that…and then some. He earned his first win of the year in his fifth race back, and ultimately won four of the next five races on the calendar. Among that win streak was New Hampshire, where Busch led 96 laps and captured the checkered flag. The defining moment of the race came when he pulled off a daring pass to unlap himself, blowing past three cars just seconds before a critical caution flew.
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2011 Trucks: Third consecutive NHMS Truck win
Busch and Ron Hornaday Jr. are the only drivers to ever win three Truck races at New Hampshire, but Busch managed to do it in a way that even Hornaday couldn’t quite match. Busch won three consecutive Truck races there from 2009-2011, winning each of them from the front row and leading over 60% of total laps run from those three events combined. 2011 was the end of that streak, leading 165 of 175 laps and winning by nearly four seconds. He also left just six trucks on the lead lap.
2011 O’Reilly: 100th win across all three national divisions, and matching Mark Martin’s record
In overtime, Busch held off Harvick to win the 2011 NASCAR O’Reilly race at New Hampshire Speedway, and this one was really special. It was Busch’s 100th career win across all three national divisions, including his 49th in the secondary level of NASCAR. In the very same race, he tied Mark Martin for the most wins ever in the history the NASCAR O’Reilly Series, because why reach just one historic milestone when you can check off two on the same day. Martin was there to congratulate Busch, who would go on to win more than double that many races.
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2006 Cup: An often overlooked win for Mr. H.
Some may forget that Busch’s Cup career began under Hendrick Motorsports as the driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet. He won four races for Mr. H, and the most dominant among them (by total laps led) came in a season where he only won a single race — 2006, at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. In the end, he held off Carl Edwards by just a few car lengths, keeping a trio of Roush cars at bay as the rival team finished 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. If not for that win, Busch’s record win streak of 19 consecutive seasons would have never been able to happen. “It’s hard to believe he’s as young as he is and has as much talent as he does,” said Hendrick himself after the race.
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Read Also:
Kurt Busch opens up on brother’s passing in new TODAY Show interview
Samantha Busch full speech from emotional Kyle Busch Invitational
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