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Kyle Busch wrecks on Lap 1 at Charlotte ROVAL, assigns blame to Carson Hocevar

ProfilePhotoby: Nick Geddes10/05/25NickGeddesNews
Kyle Busch
Joe Puetz-Imagn Images

Kyle Busch has not won a NASCAR Cup Series race since June 2023. He will not be celebrating in Victory Lane at the conclusion of Sunday’s race at the Charlotte ROVAL.

Busch, who started 28th, went for a spin in Turn 1 and crashed into the wall. The two-time Cup champion had significant damage to the right side of his car and immediately went to the garage for repairs. He called out Carson Hocevar, whom he believes wrecked him.

“We’re junked,” Busch said on his radio, via Kelly Crandall of RACER/ESPN. “The 77 wrecked us.”

Kyle Busch’s nightmare season continues at Charlotte ROVAL

At this point, Busch has to be counting down the minutes and seconds until the 2025 season comes to a close. The 2024 season was a struggle; 2025 has arguably been even worse.

Busch came into Sunday’s race 21st in the points standings, having led just 62 laps throughout the season. His team will look to get him back on the ROVAL, though at that point, he would just be logging laps rather than racing for anything meaningful.

Busch credited Hocevar with ruining his day just as it began, and the latter has certainly been down this road before. Hocevar has often found himself in conflict this season, involved in several run-ins on the racetrack with drivers such as Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Brad Keselowski, Zane Smith, and Spire Motorsports teammate Michael McDowell. Go ahead and add Busch to that list.

Sunday’s race was supposed to be a fresh start for Busch and the No. 8 team. It’s the team debut of crew chief Andy Street, who is replacing Randall Burnett atop the pit box. Trackhouse Racing announced last week that Burnett would be leaving the No. 8 team to serve in the same position for Connor Zilisch next season.

Street didn’t even get the chance to make any decisions at the ROVAL. Busch didn’t get the chance to compete.