The greatest Cup wins of Kyle Busch’s historic NASCAR career

No driver has won as many NASCAR races across the three national divisions as Kyle Busch, and at an astounding 234 victories (63 Cup/102 O’Reilly/69 Truck), no one is likely to topple that overall record.

The two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion tragically died on Thursday at the age of 41 after being overcome by a severe illness. 

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As the racing world pours out tributes for the legendary driver, we’ve decided to take a look back at some of his greatest wins at just the Cup level, simply because it would be too long if we tried to highlight some of the other 150+ victories.

Rest in Peace, Rowdy.

2005 Fontana: The first checkered flag

Kyle Busch celebration burnout for the fans

As a rookie in the NASCAR Cup Series, Busch had absolute titans as teammates, including four-time champion Jeff Gordon and future seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson. In his 31st start, he came from 25th to win for the very first time at the top level of the sport, beating Greg Biffle by half-a-second. At the time, he was the youngest winner in Cup Series history (20 yeard and 4 months).

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2007 Bristol: Winning the first C.O.T. race the only way KB could

Kyle Busch takes the checkered flag ahead of Jeff Burton

The Car of Tomorrow was a huge departure from the cars NASCAR had raced for years, and thee was some apprehension about it. But the first race at Bristol was actually pretty solid, and it ended in a photo finish as Busch bested Jeff Burton on the final lap. But then he climbed out of the car, and the driver known for having no filter let his true feelings out almost immediately: “I’m still not a very big fan of these things, I can’t stand to drive them, they suck.”

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2008 Atlanta: Toyota’s first Cup win as KB becomes driver No. 18

Race winner Kyle Busch celebrates

Toyota is a dominant force in NASCAR these days, but that wasn’t always the case. Busch was a new hire at Joe Gibbs Racing for the 2008 each season, and he didn’t waste any time. Just four races into his tenure with the team, he brought Toyota to Victory Lane, earning his first of many wins in the JGR No. 18. It was also dominant, leading 173 of 325 laps, two seconds clear of his then-teammate Tony Stewart.

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2010 & 2017 Bristol: The weekend sweep…both of them

Kyle Busch literally sweeps with a broom after Bristol weekend sweep

Only one driver in NASCAR history has managed to win the Cup, O’Reilly, and Truck races all on the same weekend — Kyle Busch, and he managed to do the unprecedented TWICE. He did it at Bristol in 2010 and again 2017. After winning both of the lower division races that weekend, he went on to take the checkered flag in the 500-mile main event. In 2010, he led over half of the race, and was similarly dominant seven years later. And yes, he did an actual broom to celebrate the sweep by literally sweeping.

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2012 Budweiser Shootout: What a save, what a comeback

This win didn’t even count towards the championship, and he still drove at an insane level. In the pre-season exhibition race we now call the Clash, Busch pulled off one of the most stunning drives of his entire career. He spun sideways in a shower of sparks not once, but twice, collecting the car without sustaining any major damage. He restarted eighth for a two-lap dash, drove through the field, and passed Tony Stewart in the final seconds of the race to win a photo finish. Even his toughest haters couldn’t help but be impressed. We included a video for this one, because a single photo cannot possibly encapsulate it.

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2015 Sonoma: Returning from leg injury without losing a step

Race winner Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

In 2015, Busch missed the first third of the season due to a serious leg injury, and when he finally returned to competition after three months, some wondered if he would be as fast as he was. The answer? He might have actually gotten faster. In just his fifth race back, he won at a road course, beginning an incredible run that would lead him to his first Cup Series title.

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2018 Chicagoland: Iconic showdown with Kyle Larson

Watch: Rewind the clock: Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson trade paint in 2018 Chicagoland finish

Another win that needs a video to truly explain what happened. At Chicagoland Speedway, Busch simply refused to lose. After Larson squeezed him into the wall to take the lead, Busch chased him down the track on the final lap and returned the favor in the final corner. Busch then bounced off the wall, and muscled his smoking car across the finish line to win the race.

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2018 Coke 600: Securing a long-awaited crown jewel

Kyle Busch wins Coke 600, No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

This win takes on a somber tone, as this weekend was set to be Busch’s 23rd consecutive appearance in NASCAR’s longest race before his tragic passing. But back to happier times, Busch was still chasing his first Coke 600 win in 2018. He had already finished second or third four times before in the 600-mile marathon, but this year, there was no denying him. He led an astounding 377 of 400 laps, lapping up to the backend of the top ten in the process. That means he spent no less than 565 of those 600 miles in front of the field. At the time, this win meant he had won a race at every single track on the schedule, and that was his third of the four crown jewel events in NASCAR.

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2018 Richmond: Last to first to earn milestone win

Kyle Busch after 2018 Richmond win, No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Busch’s 50th career Cup Series win put him in elite company, and he really had to work for it. He started from the rear of the field (39th) after an unapproved adjustment, and while it took him almost 300 laps to get there, he finally took control of the race late in the running. He led 79 of the final 100 laps, earning another impressive win. Did we mention he passed over 20 cars in the initial 30 laps of the race?

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2022 Bristol Dirt: A dramatic final win at JGR

Kyle Busch, No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

In modern NASCAR, there are are very few drivers who can say they won a Cup race on dirt, as the Bristol Dirt race only existed for three years. However, Busch is one of those victors. He had wins on road courses, short tracks, intermediates, superspeedways, and everything in-between, but in 2022, he conquered Bristol — a track he had conquered many times before — but this time while covered in dirt. It was his final win before his surprise exit from JGR, and it was dramatic. When Tyler Reddick and Chase Briscoe tangled on the final lap, Busch surged by Reddick in the final seconds to win the race.

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2023 Fontana: Second start, first win with RCR

Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

While the final few years of Busch’s career were a struggle, it’s important to remember that it didn’t start that way. Even with the Next Gen car, and even without JGR equipment, Busch reminded the world what he was capable of in 2023. In just his second race with Richard Childress Racing, Busch won the last-ever Cup race at Auto Club Speedway. He didn’t show up until the very end of the race, taking the lead with 20 to go and never looking back. It was a statement win.

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2023: The last trip to Victory Lane in Cup

Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

We have to include Gateway 2023, even if the race itself was fairly straightforward. It was the 63rd and final time we got to see Busch win at the Cup level. He won from pole, leading 123 of 243 laps in the kind of domination Busch was so well-known for in his JGR days. It was also his third win in his first 15 races with RCR. He was joined by his wife Samantha, as well as his young children Brexton and Lennix.

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2015 and 2019 Homestead: The championship-winning drives

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Kyle Busch

And lastly, we look back at Busch’s wins at Homestead in 2015 and 2019. On both days, he faced incredible pressure as part of the Championship 4 format, a 1v4 winner-take-all final showdown for the crown. He is just one three drivers to ever win multiple titles under that chaotic format, and he had to beat some of the best of his era in both years. In 2015, he faced Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, and Martin Truex Jr., taking the lead on the final restart and holding on by 1.5 seconds. In 2019, he again faced Harvick and Truex, but also Denny Hamlin. This time, it was less of a contest, as Busch answered the pressure with a dominant showing, winning by 4.5 seconds after leading nearly half the race. It was his second and final Cup Series title.

Read Also:

Motorsports world mourns the unexpected loss of NASCAR legend Kyle Busch

NASCAR great Kyle Busch dies at 41 after illness

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