NASCAR CUP SERIES: COOK OUT SOUTHERN 500

September 1, 2024

Kyle Busch

Pit Lane Interview

Q. Kyle, your team gave you the fresher rubber. Did you think that would be enough?

KYLE BUSCH: Yeah, I did. When I made it through a few of those guys right there on the start, I thought we had a start to get there. I think I just needed him to have maybe three or four more laps, older tires for me to be able to break through the wake. Once I got within his air, I really didn't have enough to power through that, to get closer. I was kind of sliding already.

Hate it for our guys, everybody on our team, everybody at RCR. This Morgan & Morgan Chevrolet, they turned it around these last four, five weeks and we've run a lot better. That's been much improved, beneficial to our team and the organization.

Something to build on and get better for. We just missed a lot in the early part of the year, through the middle part of the year, to put ourselves in this spot, to be on the outside looking in. To come in here for a last ditch effort and have a shot. Early in the race, I wouldn't have thought we had a shot. So felt like we really overachieved towards the end and got a really good finish for what we had or what I thought we had. We'll take that and keep building on it.

Q. Kind of a tale of two seasons. You had legitimate shots the last month or so.

KYLE BUSCH: And Atlanta, yeah. It's short. Come up short. Maybe I am a washed up old dog, but hopefully I can find a few more trophies.

Q. I think not, but I think you'll be looking for that victory to keep the streak alive in the last 10 races here, right?

KYLE BUSCH: No doubt. I wanted it last week. I wanted it this week. I wanted it in Atlanta. I wanted it in Vegas. There's been a lot of opportunities. Daytona 500 we were up front all day. I can count 'em at least on a hand. Maybe I need two hands to count opportunities that have slipped away.

We're achieving right now and getting success from those runs and pulling into finishes that we need.