"Hopefully I don't embarrass myself": Kyle Busch tries his hands at driving a midget car for the first time
Kyle Busch ran a few laps in a midget car for the first time in preparation for the Chili Bowl next year. As a first-timer, Busch hoped he wouldn’t embarrass himself as he got behind the wheel of the No. 51 Lucas Oil/FloRacing midget.
Busch is a 39-year-old NASCAR Cup Series driver piloting the No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro for Richard Childress Racing. After a tough 2024 season, he announced his participation in the Chili Bowl in January, marking his first run in the so-called Super Bowl of midget racing.
In an X (formerly Twitter) post by FloRacing, Busch shared his thoughts on his first test runs in a midget car.
“Here at Rockfish, North Carolina today to get my first chance of testing in a midget. Never driven a midget before so first time for everything, I guess,” Kyle Busch said. “Hopefully, I don’t embarrass myself.”
After a few laps around the dirt track, the Las Vegas native was asked about his first impressions of the car. He said:
“It’s cool, it’s fun. It’s different but not all that different than the micro stuff. I mean, you’re just… the speed, you’re going so much faster, and the rpm range is lower.” [2:30]
Busch completed his first test run in a midget car on a positive note.
“For a first go around, just getting used to the car, getting a feel of the car, I feel like there was a point where I got real comfortable with it,” Busch said. “Appreciate Lucas Oil and FloRacing for the opportunity to go out to Chili Bowl and we’ll run a few times before that so can’t wait.”
The 2025 Chili Bowl will be held at SageNet Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma from January 13 to 18 next year. But before that, he will debut in the USAC National Midget at Bakersfield Speedway on November 26 followed by a stop at Ventura Raceway on November 30.
Busch will drive the No. 51 Kyle Busch Motorsports-owned midget car partnered with FloSports and sponsored by Lucas Oil. He will compete against the Silva Motorsports midget car of fellow NASCAR driver Kyle Larson this month.
Kyle Busch on why he changed his mind to run Chili Bowl
After years of refusing to run in the Chili Bowl, Kyle Busch is set to debut in the prestigious midget event this January. When asked what changed his mind, the driver cited a few reasons, including wanting to earn more experience racing on dirt.
Speaking with FloRacing on X, the two-time NASCAR champion said:
"I would say that the biggest reason why I've changed my mind now is just having more experience of being on the dirt. Knowing a little bit more of what to expect being on the dirt." [0:43]
In a separate statement (via NASCAR), Busch also talked about continuing racing despite the conclusion of the NASCAR season. He looked forward to running alongside his son Brexton at the Tulsa Shootout.
"The Cup Series season may be over, but the racing season is still in full swing with the biggest events on dirt taking place over the next couple of months.”
"The Chili Bowl is a legendary event and has always been on my wish-list. To be able to compete there, and then alongside my son Brexton at the Tulsa Shootout, is making this year one to remember," Kyle Busch said.
Kyle and Brexton Busch will drive alongside each other at the Tulsa Shootout happening at SageNet Center in Oklahoma from December 31 to January 4.