Kyle Busch, Ross Chastain, Erik Jones to start from rear in Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte

Kyle Busch and Erik Jones will start from the rear of the field in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway for making unapproved adjustments. They join Ross Chastain, who crashed in practice and moved to a backup car, as drivers starting from the rear.

It’s more trouble for Busch, who did not turn a lap in practice due to power steering issues. Busch qualified 24th, while Jones qualified 30th. The former is looking to win his second career Coca-Cola 600 after winning his first in 2018. He’s also hoping to snap a career-long 69-race winless streak, just a day removed from Richard Childress Racing picking up his option for the 2026 season.

Though at times he’s shown signs of life this season, mistakes or misfortune have always seemed to come at the worst time. Busch is currently 17th in the points standings. Richard Childress spoke about Busch’s struggles, and how to get the race car right for him.

“Well, it all boils down to the drivers having their own feel,” Childress said, via Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports. “And we’re working hard to get that feel. The first year, we won three races right out of the bat. We’ve changed a little in our engineering and I think that bit us just a little. But he’s right. We’ve got to get the car the feel that he wants. These cars are different. And once we get that feel he wants, it’s going to be Katie Bar the Door.”

Kyle Busch, Ross Chastain have work to do in Coca-Cola 600

As for Chastain, he’s had to grind his way through the season with a race car that’s lacked in the speed department. Starting from the 40th position, he’ll have to grind his way through the field over the course of 600 grueling miles. Chastain enters the Coca-Cola 600 11th in the points standings.

“I can’t drive a slow car fast,” Chastain said Saturday, via NASCAR.com. “I’ve got fast cars when you see us go forward. As far as what people say, no real thoughts there. … As far as the car goes, I can only go forward when it’s handling right. You see that in anything. Truck race last night — go backwards when the balance is off and go forward when the balance is right. Same thing in the Cup car. We go forward when we get it right.”