Another Daytona Heartbreak: Kyle Busch Crashes Out of 500 in Double OT

Deja Vu for Rowdy

Each week, The Athletic asks 12 questions to a different race car driver. Kyle Busch, the two-time Cup Series champion and reigning Coca-Cola 600 winner, was this week's guest. One of the questions: What's your favorite memory at Daytona International Speedway?

Busch's answer: "I don't have one," he said with a laugh. "I've never won here."

That's still true after Sunday's Daytona 500. Busch led Lap 200 of the race, but a double-overtime crash left him with a 25th-place finish.

It was a disappointing end to a day that had started so promisingly for Busch. He had won his qualifying race on Thursday and started the 500 in fifth place. He quickly moved up to the front and led 11 laps in the first half of the race.

But Busch's luck ran out on the final lap of the second overtime. He was running third when he got caught up in a crash involving several cars. Busch's car was heavily damaged, and he was forced to retire from the race.

The crash was eerily similar to one that Busch had in the 2023 Duel, the qualifying race for the Daytona 500. Busch crashed in that race as well, but he was able to use a backup car to qualify for the 500.

This time, Busch wasn't so lucky. He did not have a backup car available, so he was forced to settle for a disappointing finish.