Kyle Busch is not nicknamed “Rowdy” and “Wild Thing” for nothing. For years, he’s been a polarizing figure in motorsport, both loved and disliked for his aggressive and daredevil driving on the track as well as his acid tongue off it. His hair-trigger temper has cost him dearly more than once in his career. But one of the original bad boys of NASCAR appears to have switched things around.
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Despite going winless for the past 64 races, Busch has shown remarkable composure both on and off the track. In a desperate bid for victory, he hasn’t resorted to reckless tactics or aggressive manoeuvers. Like when he rammed Kyle Larson on the last lap at Chicagoland in 2018. Something that speaks volumes about how far he’s come. And this change hasn’t gone unnoticed.
While Richard Childress attributed Busch’s evolution to fatherhood and his desire to set the right example for his son, his ex-boss Joe Gibbs shed further light on the transformation. Gibbs said that Busch’s past experience of coming back from a big low has helped him see things in perspective.
Gibbs talked about a turning point in Busch’s career in an interview with Front Stretch.“When he got very bad, he bounced back from that to win all of those races and the championship. That was a big change in his life,” referring to the 2015 season when Busch battled back from a serious injury to capture his first Cup title.
Gibbs added, “Then, he got married to Sam and then having a child, Brexton, all of those things have made him grow up.” While Busch still races with fire in his belly, Gibbs believes these life milestones have played a key role in shaping the more measured competitor he is today.
When asked what stood out most in Kyle Busch’s personal growth over the years, Joe Gibbs pointed to how the driver now weathers the storm.
He explained that while anyone can handle success, true maturity is revealed in how one manages adversity. Gibbs noted, “We’re all good on good things. In this sport, about 80 percent of the time, even with Kyle, you’re going to have bad stuff. I think he does a better job at handling that.”
Still, for a competitor of Busch’s caliber, last season likely felt like a bitter pill to swallow. With no injuries to blame, going winless was nothing short of a nightmare. Unfortunately, the tide hasn’t turned yet.
This season has followed a similar script, with Busch showing flashes of competitiveness but falling short of sealing the deal in the first eight races. Once again, he has danced near the front but hasn’t been able to close the loop. Despite the pressure, Busch has managed to keep it together, both on and off the track. And Richard Childress says Brexton is the reason Busch has changed so much.
Fatherhood has changed Busch, says Childress
During a conversation on Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Dale Jr. Download podcast, Richard Childress noted that Kyle Busch has been going the extra mile to collaborate with everyone at RCR. Though he has every right to call out mistakes, Busch chooses to hold his tongue — a decision Childress attributes to personal growth.
The RCR owner believes this shift in attitude has a great deal to do with Busch’s role as a father. As Childress put it, now that his son Brexton is racing, Busch views things through a different lens.
He wants to guide Brexton toward success with integrity, emphasizing clean, competitive driving over aggressive tactics. In Childress’s eyes, watching his son come up through the ranks has been a catalyst for Busch’s maturity.
Still, fans haven’t forgotten the fiery “Rowdy” persona that made him a transfixing figure on the track — and they’re eager to see that edge return, even if it’s paired with a cleaner racing style.
For that to happen, though, Busch needs to find his way back to Victory Lane this season.
