Kyle Busch isn’t holding back. The two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion has called the sport’s driver approval system “broken” following controversial entries like Katherine Legge and Helio Castroneves into high-stakes races. His criticism comes amid growing frustration from veteran drivers demanding stricter standards and peer involvement in regulatory decisions.
Legge’s crash-filled Phoenix debut and Castroneves’ Daytona 500 struggles have intensified scrutiny. For Busch, the issue isn’t just about newcomers — it’s about a system he claims favors “suits and ties” over competitive integrity.
Kyle Busch’s Fury Over NASCAR’s ‘Confusing’ Approval Process
Busch’s frustration stems from years of inconsistent decisions. As a former Truck Series team owner, he watched young drivers he mentored get denied track approvals while others with minimal experience were cleared for Cup races.
“I think it’s broken,” Busch said.
“There can be some that need to be involved, but I do feel like there needs to be firesuits involved in some of those decision-making processes… It shouldn’t be suits and ties making the decisions always,” he emphasized, pushing for Cup Series drivers to have input on approvals.
"I think it is broken" said @KyleBusch on the #NASCAR driver approval process and it shouldn't always be suit and ties making all the decisions; there should be some firesuits involved, the same with penalties from the sanctioning body.
— Jerry Jordan (@JerryJordan_KTT) March 15, 2025
Despite no oval starts since 2018, Legge was approved to race at Phoenix, highlighting the problem. The British road-racing veteran spun twice, collecting Daniel Suárez in a wreck.
“I was mad at the situation, and I believe that she got set for failure. It doesn’t matter if you’re a great driver or a bad driver. Regardless of that, if you are thrown in one of the most difficult series in the world to be competitive, it’s just not fair,” Suárez said, comparing the process to Formula 1’s stringent Super License requirements.
“I believe I’m one of the best racing drivers in a stock car in the world, and if I wanted to run Formula 1 or Formula 2, I can’t. I’m not qualified to do that, and I shouldn’t because I don’t know the car, and I don’t know the tracks,” he added.
Busch’s stance aligns with Chase Elliott’s call for mandatory lower-series experience, similar to his ARCA starts before moving to Trucks. Denny Hamlin also pointed out IndyCar’s rigorous rookie testing, contrasting it with NASCAR’s minimal practice time. “You just have to enter,” Hamlin scoffed.
Peer Justice Over Penalties and the Austin Cindric Controversy
The debate extends to penalties. When Austin Cindric intentionally hooked Ty Dillon’s car at COTA, NASCAR fined him $50,000 — a punishment Busch called misguided.
“I’ll even go as far to say too I feel the same way on driver penalties,” he said. “You should get penalized by your peers.”
Joey Logano echoed Busch, stressing the fine line between “entertainment and safety.” He proposed requiring Xfinity Series starts before Cup approvals.
“There’s got to be some marks you have to hit before you get approved into a Cup race,” Logano said.
For veterans, the issue is personal. Suárez spent years climbing NASCAR’s ladder after moving from Mexico. Legge’s direct entry undermines that grind.
“It’s just not fair,” Suárez said. “This is the pinnacle.”
Busch’s solution? A panel of active drivers to vet approvals and penalties. Until then, he warns, the system risks more Phoenix-like chaos — where inexperience meets consequence, and everyone pays the price.