Kyle Busch, a well-known and outspoken NASCAR driver, is raising concerns about who gets to decide which drivers can compete at the highest level of the sport. He believes that these decisions shouldn’t be made by executives alone.
As both a driver and a Truck Series team owner, Busch is scrutinizing NASCAR’s approval process, particularly when drivers with little stock car experience are given opportunities in the Cup Series. Some recent cases, like Helio Castroneves running the Daytona 500 without prior NASCAR experience and Katherine Legge racing at Phoenix after years away from oval tracks, have sparked debate—especially since neither driver finished their respective races.
When asked about NASCAR’s approval system, Busch admitted he doesn’t fully understand it. He’s been confused for years, especially when his own Truck Series drivers were denied opportunities while others were approved under similar circumstances. Now, he believes the system is flawed.
Beyond just driver approvals, NASCAR’s inconsistent penalties have also drawn criticism. Some believe Austin Cindric should have been suspended for intentionally wrecking Ty Dillon at COTA, as similar incidents in the past led to harsher punishments. NASCAR argued that the circumstances were different, but Busch questions whether intent should matter more than the result.
Busch feels that disciplinary decisions like Cindric’s penalty shouldn’t be made solely by executives. Instead, he suggests that drivers themselves should play a role in handing out penalties, rather than leaving it up to “suits and ties.”
He believes there’s significant room for improvement and questions who exactly is making these decisions. While executives may have some role, he argues that people with actual racing experience—those who wear fire suits—should be involved in deciding who gets approved to race.
One possible solution is to give rookie drivers more track time before major races. However, Busch acknowledges that this isn’t always feasible, especially for smaller teams with limited budgets. Testing would be helpful, but securing the funding and resources to conduct extra practice sessions isn’t always realistic.
A potential compromise could be allowing first-time drivers an extended practice session before race weekends to familiarize themselves with the track and car. While nothing is changing immediately, Busch and others hope to see adjustments made to the approval and penalty system soon.
