“What the (expletive) am I going to rush to the wreck for? We’re running (expletive) 30th!”
On Sunday, Daytona International Speedway hosted the famed Daytona 500 for the NASCAR Cup Series. Kyle Busch started from the pole position in the 500-mile race.
On the final restart with 3 laps to go, Kyle Busch re-started in 11th. He started on the outside row but moved to the bottom and quickly went backwards.
Coming to 2 laps to go, the spotter said, “Bottom of three. Getting ready to wreck.”
“Be on your toes here. Still three bottom. Be ready here”
At this point, Busch had fallen outside the top 20. He then lifted completely out of the throttle and let the field drive off into the distance.
With 2 laps to go, Busch was now 29th rolling into turn one with no help and the pack driving away.
The team jumped on the radio, “Are you out of fuel?”
Kyle Busch: “No! What the (expletive) am I going to rush to the wreck for? We’re running (expletive) 30th!”
Busch added, “Outside lane never goes remember?”
After taking the white flag, the field began to crash. NASCAR didn’t throw a caution.
The team jumped on the radio, “Wrecking. Check up, nothing behind. Everything’s going to come up here. Make sure we do get through it because it’s going to a lot of positions.”
As Busch exited turn two, he was up to 15th.
The team was back on the radio, “They’re wrecking at the start/finish line. Big wreck. Caution.”
Watch the onboard video below.
Daytona 500 Race Results: February 15, 2026 (NASCAR)
New rules for 2026
Kyle Busch is playing the long game.
NASCAR has new rules for the 2026 season. With a new playoff format, finishing the race matters again.
The Chase has returned, a 10-race playoff with no eliminations. Win-and-youre-in is also gone. Winning a race no longer guarantees a position in the playoffs. Drivers still need to point their way in to the 10-race playoff.
Kyle Busch just picked up a ton of points, just by avoiding the wrecker and finishing the race.
NASCAR points after Daytona (February 2026)
