Kyle Busch Dials In His Ride With Key Practice Reps Ahead Of the Tulsa Shootout
The holidays are barely in the rearview mirror, but in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the engines are already screaming. We are just days away from the green flag dropping at the Tulsa Shootout, widely considered the “Mecca of Micros.” For most, it’s a pilgrimage to dirt racing’s hallowed ground. For two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch, it’s a business trip.
Rowdy is back in the SageNet Center, and he isn’t there to sign autographs. He’s there to work. Busch has been turning heads and turning laps, logging serious practice time ahead of the main event. For a driver with a resume as stacked as his, you might think he’d take it easy.
But dirt racing is a different beast entirely, and Busch knows that reputation alone won’t find grip in the corners. He is a skilled, veteran racer, but piloting these sprint cars, winged, non-wing, and stock, requires an entirely different discipline than wrestling a heavy stock car around Daytona.
Busch Battling the Learning Curve
The Tulsa Expo Raceway is a unique animal. It’s an indoor clay oval that changes character with every passing heat race. Pavement racing is about precision and consistency; dirt racing is about adaptation and managing chaos.
Busch has relatively little experience on this specific layout compared to the dirt specialists who live and breathe this discipline year-round. That’s why these early practice sessions are vital. He isn’t just shaking down the cars.
He is rewiring his reflexes. In a recent video shared from the pits, Busch gave fans a glimpse of the grind. He showed footage from his first practice session, noting casually that he still had three more divisions to run that day alone. He is entered in four different classes.
That is a grueling schedule for anyone, let alone a guy who has spent the last two decades focusing on 500-mile marathons on asphalt. It shows a level of commitment that demands respect. He wants to learn, and the only way to learn is to turn laps until the track feels like an extension of the steering wheel.
The Hunt for the Golden Driller
There is a specific piece of hardware that Busch is chasing, and it has eluded him so far: the Golden Driller. It’s one of the most coveted trophies in all of motorsports. Last year, the Busch family did bring a Driller home, but it wasn’t Kyle holding it. It was his son, Brexton.
Brexton Busch claimed his victory in the Tulsa Shootout a year ago, cementing his status as a rising star. Now, the narrative has shifted. It’s no longer just about Kyle teaching Brexton the ropes; it’s about Dad trying to match the kid’s trophy case. The father-son duo will be competing in the Winged A division, setting the stage for a potential head-to-head showdown that fans are desperate to see.
There is a genuine human element here that goes beyond racing. It’s a father watching his son succeed, while simultaneously having that innate, burning competitive desire to prove he’s still the top dog. If they find themselves battling for position, expect clean racing, but don’t expect Kyle to lift.
Can Busch Find Success on Dirt?
While Busch has found success at Millbridge Speedway, claiming midweek wins, a major crown jewel dirt victory is still missing from his resume. The Tulsa Shootout is the perfect place to change that.
However, the road to the A-Main is treacherous. In previous years, Busch has experienced the highs of heat wins and the lows of flipping the car. The erratic nature of the Shootout means that one bad slide job or a checked-up car in front of you can end your week.
By running four divisions, Busch is giving himself maximum seat time, but he is also maximizing his fatigue. He will be hopping from car to car, constantly adjusting to different handling characteristics and horsepower levels. If he keeps advancing through the qualifiers, his week will be a marathon of focus and physical endurance.
A Star-Studded Field in Tulsa
Busch isn’t the only big name trading pavement for clay this week. The Tulsa Shootout and the upcoming Chili Bowl Nationals have become winter havens for NASCAR talent. We are going to see an epic crossover event. Kyle Larson, arguably the best all-around driver on the planet right now, will be there. Christopher Bell, a dirt racing prodigy turned Cup star, is always a threat.
Young guns like Ty Gibbs and Sheldon Creed are also set to mix it up. This influx of talent raises the stakes. It’s not just about beating the local dirt ringers anymore. It’s about bragging rights in the garage area when the Cup Series kicks off in February.
What The Week Represents For Busch
For Busch, this week represents a fresh start. His recent NASCAR campaigns haven’t yielded the dominance he is used to. A win here or a Golden Driller could be the spark that reignites the fire. It could be the first step in a 2026 revenge tour. But first, he has to survive the prelims. The practice laps are done. The transponders are on. It’s time to see if Rowdy can conquer the dirt.
