Kyle Busch, driving for Richard Childress Racing, arrives at the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series DuraMAX Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas with a cautionary reminder from last year. The two-time Cup Series champion insists that tire wear and strategic decisions concerning tires will be decisive factors in the race outcome at the Texas road course, given how tire issues cost him a potential win in the previous event.
This weekend’s race marks the first road-course competition of the Cup Series season. Goodyear is supplying the same Racing Eagle tire package used at COTA last year, which has also been the standard at other road course events this season. Justin Fantozzi, Goodyear’s Director of Racing, highlighted that this consistency enables teams to better manage long stints and adapt to varying grip conditions throughout the contest.
Busch deeply understands the importance of tire management. Reflecting on his experience in last year’s race, he noted how even a small difference in the age of his tires compared to his competitors influenced the battle for victory.
“Looking forward to COTA, I always love going there,” Kyle Busch said via Speedway Media. “We really had a good car last year at COTA. We were on the right side of strategy and coming to pit road when we did. We had a four second gap to the next guy behind us for the last couple laps of the race, and I don’t think they would have caught us.”
“Unfortunately, a yellow came out, and I had to try to race it out through a couple of restarts. Our two-lap older tires were just enough that Christopher Bell was able to get us, so we gracefully faded to fifth,” he continued.
How tire age affected Busch’s final laps against Christopher Bell
Busch acknowledged last season’s error in judgment during the closing laps, openly referring to himself as a butthead while assessing how the race concluded. Specifically, he pitted on Lap 69, while Christopher Bell extended his run by two more laps, pitting on Lap 71. This difference granted Bell fresher tires during the crucial restart sequence.
Looking ahead, Busch expects tire degradation will play an even more pronounced role in this year’s race. He anticipates increased tire falloff compared to previous years, which could drastically influence competitors’ strategies.
“I think there will be a good amount of tire falloff and more than what we’ve seen in years past,” Busch explained. “Last year, we saw a good bit of tire falloff. I just mentioned how we only had two lap older tires than Christopher Bell, and he was able to outrace me at the end of the race.”
“Tires are going to be more paramount this weekend. You might see guys, if there’s a late caution with 10 to go, that got three or four lap old tires might come, pit, and try to drive back through the field and hope that the front guys burn their stuff up. Fresher tires more times than not, especially with more horsepower, you’re going to want them,” he added.
Busch’s comments underscore a vital lesson learned from a difficult yet instructive finish. Despite last year’s setback, Circuit of The Americas remains a strong venue for him, where he has recorded four top-10 finishes in five Cup starts, including a second-place achievement in 2023.
Kyle Busch’s effort to reclaim dominance following last year’s late-race challenge
During the 2025 Cup Series event at COTA, Busch displayed command for much of the race, leading 42 of 95 laps. He dictated the pace through lengthy stretches, including the majority of the final green-flag run, seemingly well-positioned for a win.
With 17 laps remaining, Busch extended his lead to over six seconds ahead of the pursuing drivers. This cushion allowed him to conserve tires and drive less aggressively in the closing corners. However, a crash on Lap 78 brought out a late caution, wiping out his advantage and leading to a restart with Christopher Bell right on his tail.
Busch initially maintained the lead through several restart laps, but Bell’s fresher tires gave him the edge. He overtook Busch on Lap 89, then distanced himself from the field. The two also made contact between Turns 2 and 3, which damaged Busch’s right rear tire. This impairment hurt his car’s handling during the final laps, making it difficult to fend off challengers.
William Byron and Tyler Reddick took advantage of Busch’s weakened position, passing him as the race wound down, and Busch ultimately finished fifth. After a challenging start to the 2026 season, the upcoming road course event represents a crucial opportunity for Busch and the No. 8 team to regroup and contend anew.
