The year 2024 has not been the best year for Kyle Busch. In fact, it’s shaping up to be one of the worst seasons of his career, which dates all the way back to 2005,  with Hendrick Motorsports, his first full Cup season. The two-time Cup Series champion has always been a winner, but this year, that 19-season streak of race wins came to a screeching halt.

Not only did he fail to win a race, but his five top-five finishes and ten top-10s marked career lows. That resulted in a disappointing 20th-place finish in the standings, and for the first time since the playoffs were introduced in 2014, Busch missed the postseason altogether. It’s tough to believe that a guy with 63 Cup wins (the most among active drivers) and 102 Xfinity wins is going through this rough patch. But hey, even the best of the best hit bumps in the road. But for Busch, the streak of bad luck is following him everywhere.

Kyle Busch misses out on his debut midget race

After the disappointing Cup season wrapped up, Busch turned his attention to something entirely new: midget car racing. Believe it or not, even a veteran like Busch had never driven a full-size midget car before. Sure, he’s raced micro sprints at events like the Tulsa Shootout and other dirt tracks, but midget racing? That was uncharted territory. With more dirt racing on his plate, Rowdy dove headfirst into the world of midget racing.

With the 2025 Chili Bowl, the ‘Super Bowl’ of midget racing on his mind, Kyle Busch decided to get some practice in. Before heading to the legendary SageNet Center for the big event, he lined up a couple of midget races, starting with a test session at Rockfish Speedway. And while he was a little cramped in the car, he came away from the practice feeling good. Busch said after the session, “It was fun. Definitely just a whole unique, different learning experience from the micro. I mean just power car weight, all of that, like differences and RPMs of the engine, that sort of stuff. But you know being by yourself is quite easy – easier than it is being out in the crowd…I felt like there was a point where I got real comfortable with it and was able to put together some good laps and just kind of take it all in.”

Unfortunately, that comfort didn’t last long in his debut midget race at Bakersfield. Busch was looking like he might win it. With 10 laps to go, he was running second, chasing down Austin Torgerson in the #88 for the lead. But just as Busch made the pass, led two laps, and seemed poised for victory, disaster struck. Sparks flew from his car’s exhaust, and just like that, his race was over. That’s got to sting! Winning a debut race would’ve been the perfect redemption for his frustrating Cup season, but the racing gods weren’t ready to cut him a break just yet. Here, take a look:

This wasn’t the first time Busch’s been on the verge of victory only to fall short. Back in the regular season finale at Daytona, Busch was leading late in the race, but a well-timed push from Parker Retzlaff helped Harrison Burton nab the win. Busch had to settle for second place, which, unfortunately, also meant missing out on a playoff spot. And then, in Darlington, it was déjà vu. Another P2 finish, this time to Chase Briscoe. Those near-wins added up, and the frustration clearly mounted.

Well, Busch still has one more chance to prove to himself that he’s ready for the 2025 Chili Bowl.

Can Kyle Busch win his next Midget race?

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So, what’s next for Busch? Despite the setback at Bakersfield, he’s not giving up on his midget racing goals. His FloRacing #51B car is set to hit the track again at the Turkey Night Grand Prix on November 30 at Ventura Raceway. It’s the same track where Kyle Larson won last year’s USAC National Midget Series race, so you know it’s a tough field.

Busch wasn’t always sold on midget racing, admitting last year that he didn’t think it was in the cards for him. But his perspective has changed. The chance to try something new, plus the opportunity to race alongside his 9-year-old son, Brexton Busch, who’s already making waves in motorsports, is something Busch couldn’t pass up.

As he put it, “The Cup season may be over, but the racing season is still in full swing with the biggest events on dirt, taking place over the next couple of months. The Chili Bowl is a legendary event and has always been on my wish list. To be able to compete there, and then alongside my son Brexton at the Tulsa Shootout, is making this year one to remember.”

Busch’s a family guy through and through, and the Chili Bowl is the perfect place to create some unforgettable memories with his son. “This year, I decided to go run the Chili Bowl. With all the dirt racing I’ve been doing the last couple of years with Brexton, running in the Tulsa Shootout, I got my feet wet more and more with these cars. But this will be the first time really behind the wheel of a midget there, so that’s going to be interesting. But nothing competes or compares with the atmosphere or the size of the event.”

So, after all that bad luck, can Kyle Busch finally find some success in the midget car world? The Turkey Night Grand Prix at Ventura is his next chance to prove he’s ready for the big stage in 2025. Let us know what you think!