Kyle Busch Learning in His First Taste of the Chili Bowl

TULSA, O.K.- A decade ago, Kyle Busch likely would have scoffed at the idea of racing at the Chili Bowl. The two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion showed little outward Interest in dirt racing.

But much has changed in the past 10 years.

Busch and son Brexton are the defending track champions at the popular 1/6-mile Millbridge Speedway in Salisbury, N.C. Both competed in the Tulsa Shootout, with Brexton claiming the Junior Sprint A-Main. Two weeks later, Kyle is back in the SageNet Center, contesting the Chili Bowl for the first time in his career.

Leading up to the event, Busch had some fun on social media, posting a video of him trying to climb out of the racecar and clearly struggling to make it out. As it turns out, that funny moment wasn’t planned.

“No, just spontaneous,” Busch told Frontstretch on Friday. “You know I was in the shop and we’re just trying to get everything all fitted and a brand new seat, never sat in it on the floor. So obviously it didn’t fit, and getting in and out of the car was a challenge anyways. But we got it all scienced out, (I can) get in pretty easy now. It’s a part of the whole game and the learning experience, just trying to make my way into dirt racing.”

The Richard Childress Racing star looked strong early on his prelim night, charging from seventh to second in his heat race on Friday evening. But that proved to be the highlight of his event

Busch started sixth in his qualifier and climbed as high as fourth, but ultimately slid back to seventh by the end of 10 laps. He had a shot to make the prelim night A-main afterward, but couldn’t hold onto an early transfer position in the B-main, fading back to seventh before the checkered flag flew.

“When I was going forward, yeah a lot more fun going forward,” Busch said of his experience. “When the track had grip earlier we had some pretty good grip, we had some pretty good speed, so that felt good. Last couple times we hit the track (the car had) just too much wheelspin, not enough stick. Got to be able to grip that corner and we just weren’t having it.”

When running the bottom of the racetrack Busch was holding his own, but he found difficulty when moving to the top of the track on both ends. Running the cushion was a struggle for Busch, one he acknowledged takes track time to learn.

“Well to switch back and forth and just be able to hit it right…