When the green flag dropped at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday, Kyle Busch quietly crossed a threshold that most drivers never even dream of reaching. His 750th career Cup Series start. No fanfare. No victory lap. Just another race for a driver who’s been showing up and grinding it out at NASCAR’s highest level for over two decades. Let that number sink in for a second. Seven hundred and fifty starts.

That’s not just longevity, that’s a career built on relentless commitment to the sport. Busch is now the 14th driver in NASCAR history to reach that mark, and he’s the only active driver who can claim it. When you think about the sheer physical and mental toll of racing at this level for that long, it’s nothing short of remarkable.

The Journey to 750

Kyle Busch didn’t just stumble into 750 starts. He earned every single one of them, starting back in 2004 when he made his Cup debut with Hendrick Motorsports. He was just a kid then, running six races before landing a full-time ride in the No. 5 Chevrolet.

Over three seasons with HMS, he won four races in 114 starts, showing flashes of the talent that would eventually make him one of the sport’s most polarizing and successful drivers. But it was his move to Joe Gibbs Racing in 2008 that really defined his career. For 15 years, Busch piloted the No. 18 Toyota, and he turned it into one of the most feared cars on the track.

Fifty-six of his 63 career wins came during that stretch. Two championships, in 2015 and 2019. Five straight appearances in the Championship 4. He was a constant threat, week in and week out, and everyone knew it.

Then came 2023. After all those years with JGR, Busch made the jump to Richard Childress Racing. It was a fresh start, a new challenge, and for a while, it looked like it might work. He won three of his first 15 races with RCR, proving he could still get it done. But since then? It’s been a different story.

The Winless Streak

Busch is currently on a 92-race winless streak. Read that again. Ninety-two races. For a driver who’s won 63 times in his career, that’s brutal. It’s the most extensive dry spell of his life, and it’s come at a time when he’s supposed to be thriving with a new team. To make it worse, Busch hasn’t made the playoffs in either of his two full seasons with RCR.

That’s a reality that has to sting for a guy who spent the better part of a decade as a championship contender. He’s not used to being on the outside looking in, and you can see the frustration every time he climbs out of the car after another tough result. But here’s the thing about Kyle Busch: he’s still showing up.

Every week. Every race. That’s what 750 starts really represents. It’s not just about the wins or the championships. It’s about the grit to keep going when things aren’t working, when the car isn’t fast, when the results aren’t there. It’s about loving the sport enough to keep fighting, even when it feels like the whole world is counting you out.

What This Milestone Really Means

In a sport where careers can end in an instant, where one bad crash, one sponsorship loss, or one team shakeup can send a driver packing, reaching 750 starts is an achievement that deserves respect. It means Busch has stayed healthy, stayed relevant, and stayed employed at the highest level for over 20 years. That’s not luck. That’s talent, work ethic, and an iron will to compete.

And while the wins haven’t come lately, Busch is still out there proving he belongs. At 40, he’s racing against drivers half his age who grew up watching him dominate. He’s adapting to new cars, new rules, and a constantly evolving competitive landscape. Not every driver can do that.

Most don’t even get the chance. The only other active driver who’s anywhere close to joining the 750 club is Denny Hamlin, who made his 700th start back in June at Nashville. Hamlin is expected to hit 750 in the fall of 2026, but until then, Busch stands alone as the only current driver at this level.

The Road Ahead

So what’s next for Kyle Busch? That’s the question everyone’s asking. Can he break through and win again with RCR? Can he find a way back into the playoffs and make one more run at a championship? Or is this the beginning of the end for one of NASCAR’s all-time greats?

Honestly, nobody knows. But if there’s one thing we’ve learned from watching Busch over the last 750 starts, it’s that you should never count him out. He’s been underestimated before. He’s been written off before. And every time, he’s found a way to remind everyone why he’s one of the best to do it.

Final Thoughts

Sunday’s race at Phoenix might not have been a storybook moment. No win. No championship celebration. Just another day at the office for a driver who’s been clocking in for over two decades. But that’s what makes Kyle Busch special.

He doesn’t need the spotlight to validate what he’s accomplished. The 750 starts speak for themselves.And when he finally does find Victory Lane again, and he will, it’s going to be one hell of a moment. Because if anyone’s earned it, it’s Kyle Busch.

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