Dale Earnhardt Jr. recognizes Kyle Busch’s playoff chances continue to dwindle, as the disappointing weekends continue to pile up for the No. 8.
The two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion currently sits 45 points outside the cut-line, and it’s looking more and more like a win will have to be the way he gets into the playoffs. In fact, that’s exactly what Earnhardt Jr. believes.
“I think he’s going to have to win,” Earnhardt Jr. responded, regarding whether Busch can make the playoffs with eight races to go, via the latest episode of the Dale Jr. Download. “I don’t think that they have the speed to beat the cars around them, or beat the cars that are in the playoffs currently.
“I don’t think they have the speed. But they do have the flash, that’s capable — they are flashy, and capable of rolling in somewhere and winning a race. No question. I still believe that about Kyle Busch.”
It’s no surprise that’s the only way Earnhardt Jr. believes Busch can make the playoffs. However, does the NASCAR Hall of Famer believe Busch can get the job done? He added a bold prediction regarding the Richard Childress Racing wheelman, and it’s safe to say he believes in him.
“I wasn’t sure how much y’all wanted to talk about the struggles that Kyle Busch had. It was a tough day. It’s been a long, tough month. Got lapped early. … Just a tough day. I don’t think — I think they turn it around. I mean, they guy could go win next week,” Earnhardt Jr. added. “You just don’t know with him. And that team. They’re streaky.
“I know it’s been a bad year compared to last year, but you just don’t ever know. When they show up with a car, the guy can do it.”
Alas, it’s easy to see why Earnhardt Jr. still has faith in Busch, even though it’s been hard to see the forest through the trees for fans of the No. 8 in 2024. Even when it seems like he’s on his way to a solid afternoon, like at Sonoma Raceway, something out of the blue ruins his afternoon, and hits him hard in the standings.
Perhaps more important than the playoffs though is Busch’s streak of seasons with a victory. It’s almost two decades long, and losing that would be more heartbreaking than missing the playoffs for the two-time champion.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. believes in Kyle Busch, but is that enough? Time will tell, but a glimmer of hope needs to arrive for the No. 8 team before anybody starts predicting a trip to Victory Lane for them.
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