Kyle Busch critical of 'suit and ties' NASCAR approval requirements, calls for driver input on penalties

Last week, Kyle Busch let his feelings be known about the Austin Cindric penalty. Now he is saying more about that and other decisions in NASCAR. This week, Busch went in on the approval process for new drivers in the Cup Series.

Besides the fact that NASCAR doesn’t let drivers test and there is limited to no practice each week, there are other issues with the approval process. Kyle Busch knows it all too well as a driver and former team owner.

Busch talked to the media at Las Vegas on Saturday. He had a bit to say about the approval process.

“Yeah. I don’t have a great answer,” Busch said in the Las Vegas Motor Speedway media center. “I feel like I’ve questioned the approval process for a long, long time being an owner in the Truck Series and seeing some young drivers get opportunities at different tracks versus my drivers that I was trying to get them opportunities at some of those same tracks getting denied. So, I was very confused and probably I’m even more confused now on how it all works. So, I think it’s broken. I think there’s a lot of work that could be done to make it better.

“I also do feel as though it shouldn’t be suit and ties making the decision always. Certainly, there can be some that need to be involved but I do feel like there needs to be firesuits involved in some of those decision-making processes on those that need to be approved or not approved for various activities. I’ll even go as far to say too I feel the same way on driver penalties. The Austin Cindric deal. I don’t think suit and ties should be making that, I think you should get penalized by your peers.”

Kyle Busch showing signs of improvement in 2025

The No. 8 team is 8th in points this season early on. Three top-10s have them running much better than they were early in the year last season. Busch has led 55 laps and has shown really speed so far this season.

Richard Childress Racing as a whole has improved. They are showing that they aren’t going to get left behind. At least not in the first month or so of the season. Even Austin Dillon has had more speed to start the 2025 season.

Kyle Busch is in the booth for the Xfinity Series race. Getting his broadcast chops out for the second-tier series. Usually we only see Busch on Saturdays if he’s racing. He’s been great in the booth. Perhaps showing that he is more confident this year and willing to do more of the extra things drivers do outside of racing.