One of the most likable figures on the NASCAR grid, thanks to his passive-aggressive statements, Kyle Busch isn’t one to mince his words, particularly regarding NASCAR’s officiating. Following Sunday’s race at COTA, “Rowdy” was once again at his ranting best, pointing out the unprofessionalism of the sport’s authorities.
NASCAR’s handling of the track-limits protocol at COTA seemed to change with the wind, leaving everyone confused over what to follow. Taking note of the chaos that took place, Busch called out the authorities by drawing parallels with their biggest contemporary — Formula 1 racing.
Kyle Busch Blasts NASCAR for Not Being Clear Over Their Directives
Busch nearly put an end to his winless streak before Christopher Bell came charging in to sneak away with the victory. However, the lost shot at victory did not bother the No. 8 driver as much as the “floating” track limits rule did.
Running behind Shane van Gisbergen in the first stage, Busch noticed him and several other drivers cutting Turn 6. He relayed the message on his team radio that some drivers weren’t paying attention to the candy stripes on Turn 6. But there was no penalty for any driver.
Speaking to the media after the race, Rowdy claimed the confusion stemmed from NASCAR’s lack of firm decision-making. He claimed, “I heard they were going to police Turns 4, 5, and 6. Then it turned to 3, 4, and 5, and yesterday, it was only 4 and 5.” However, Kyle Larson was slapped with a penalty for reciprocating Gisbergen’s Turn 6 actions on Turn 3.
Per Kyle Busch's team radio, NASCAR is only enforcing track limits in turns 3, 4 and 5. Turn 6 is wide open, fair game. #NASCAR
— Jonathan Fjeld (@Jonathan_Fjeld) March 2, 2025
Calling the authorities out, Busch said, “They ain’t got a clue.” He added, “We need to be a professional racing league that knows how to handle it professionally. You look at Formula 1 and V8 Supercar — they all have track limits.”
While the other sports have had their run-ins over the proper implementation of track limits, their policing has been far better than NASCAR’s. At least the authorities have a clear picture of what the limits are and where they need to be implemented.
With Busch’s latest statements, it is even more evident that NASCAR is jeopardizing its races. A lack of clarity from the racing authority leaves drivers running into a dark tunnel without their headlights on. Busch has made it clear that NASCAR needs to get a grip on things before it is too late.
