Kurt Busch Triumphant in Kansas with 23XI Racing

Photo Credit to Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR

NASCAR

Kurt Busch, 23XI Racing 45 Team Mark 11th Different Winner of 2022 at Kansas

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – “It’s all about teamwork,” said Kurt Busch after winning Kansas. “I mean, I don’t do this alone, and the way that Toyota has helped us, JGR. My little brother has been so important just on the family side of, hey, you’ve got to get through these steps.”

The expansion team for 23XI Racing with past champion Kurt Busch has found victory lane. Wearing the Jordan Brand on his Toyota, Kurt Busch wins at Kansas. After taking the lead midway through Stage 2, the No. 45 Toyota was seemingly on rails. However, the elder Busch still had to battle back from restarting third late, getting by both Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson. This wild and wacky Kansas race marks career win number 34 for Kurt Busch. The 2004 champion returns to the Playoffs as the 11th different winner this year.

While Christopher Bell was fast from the pole, it would be another Toyota taking Stage 1. After getting ahead of Bell after pit stops, Kyle Busch held the field at bay for his first Stage win of 2022.

Early in Stage 2 William Byron took command using a daring three-wide move down the backstretch. The 24 appeared in prime position for their third win of the season, until a tire issue. While leading, Byron lost a left rear tire. This gave the top spot to Kurt Busch, as Byron limped into pit road. Unable to regain much lost ground, Byron would finish Kansas in a quiet 16th-place.

A caution for Kevin Harvick spinning in the midst of green-flag pit stops would jumble up the running order. Also under this caution came one of the weirdest occurrences in awhile. Erik Jones’ right rear wheel was stuck to his car; his pit crew took over 10 minutes to remove the stubborn lug nut. After a promising run early on, the 43 would be trapped laps down and finish 32nd.

Once racing resumed, it was the 45 of Kurt Busch setting sail in the lead. The veteran took his first Stage win since Atlanta last July, which also happened to be his last race win. Kurt took the Stage 2 win over his brother Kyle.

After Stage 2, Kyle Busch had a pit road speeding penalty, setting the 18 back. Without his brother there to duel him, Kurt Busch took off for the start of the final Stage. However, he would quickly be tracked down by another Kyle, Larson. The 5 attempted to take the lead with a slide job, but overcooked it out of turn two, sending him sideways. Amazingly, Larson regained control only after minimal wall contact, and continued onward. This exchange left Kurt Busch unchallenged up front for a little bit.

Another caution for Chase Elliott losing a tire would give Larson another shot at the lead. While racing again with the 45 however, Larson bounced off the wall a few times, losing pace again. Larson and the rest of the field would get one more chance though, when Kevin Harvick triggered a caution for fluid.

With just 37 laps left, Kurt Busch lost time on pit road, as he exited third behind Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson. On the restart, Larson initially fired off strong but the 45 was laying in the weeds.

At 20 to go, Kurt retook second from his brother, and set his sights on the 5. After working him over in each lane turn by turn, Kurt Busch made the winning pass with eight laps left. Once again, Larson found the wall trying to stay with the 45. Larson’s best line was right up against the paint, and the 5 overstepped the limit once again.

A patient, reserved, veteran pass eventually gave Kurt Busch his first-ever win at Kansas. The 45 is the 11th different team to visit victory lane through just 12 weeks of 2022. For Kurt Busch, 23XI Racing marks the fifth-separate team he’s also won with, and Toyota is the fourth manufacturer he’s driven to a checkered flag. 2022 also marks the 16th season where the 2004 champion has made the Playoffs. This mark is tied with Denny Hamlin for most all-time.

“Bubba is a tremendous teammate, but this is 23XI,” Busch said. “This is our first win for the 45 car and with Jordan Brand on the hood. I felt like I had to play like the GOAT, race like the GOAT, and I had to beat the Kyles. I had to beat both. This was like the Kyle and Kyle show.

“I remember Ned Jarrett said, this is the Dale and Dale show. If I can get one Kyle, I can get both. I had to have the confidence to know that our setup would do things on short run and long run.

“Thanks to Jordan Brand, Toyota, Monster Energy, McDonald’s, MoneyLion. Just all the team partners of 23XI. This 45 car is the winner now.”

“It’s the most gratifying to work from the ground up with a brand new car number. Yes, I have been with a lot of teams, a lot of manufacturers. Now, this is the check off the Toyota box, but it’s about family.

“I love my family at home. I love my KBI employees and everybody at 23XI. This is for us. This is what the hard work is all about no matter if you lose a couple of spots on pit road, no matter if our car was a basket of whatever to start. I’m going to go find Toto. I’m in Kansas, I’m loving it.”

Behind the trio of Kurt, Larson, and Kyle Busch, 23XI co-owner Denny Hamlin was fourth, while fellow Toyota Christopher Bell was fifth. Martin Truex Jr., Ross Chastain, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Alex Bowman, and Bubba Wallace rounded out the top 10.

Kansas marked the halfway point of the 2022 Cup Series regular season. With such a milestone reached, the championship and Playoff talks will pause for a week. Next Sunday marks the All-Star Race from Texas Motor Speedway, where one driver will take home a $1 million payday. Coverage begins at 8:00 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Which driver will claim the big check at the end of the biggest all-star event in sports? Tune in to find out who does the Texas Two-Step into victory lane.

Written by Peter Stratta

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Photo Credit to Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR