Kyle Busch says NASCAR has become more like F1 and he hates it

Two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch has opened up on how he feels about the current state of NASCAR, revealing that he hates the fact that the sport has become more like F1.

Busch has been around and seen it all at this stage of his career, with 233 race wins across the Cup, O'Reilly and Truck Series and three championships in total (two Cup, one O'Reilly).

His Cup Series wins have dried up of late, though, with the Richard Childress Racing star currently on a 103-race run without a victory in NASCAR's top division.

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Kyle Busch hates NASCAR has become 'more F1-ish'

2026 has been a particularly difficult year for Busch so far, but speaking on the Hang Out with Sean Hannity show, the two-time champion has suggested that winning in the sport these days is all about the car, and less about the driver.

“I feel like NASCAR has gotten a little bit more f1-ish,” Busch explained to Hannity. “It's all in the horse [car] you ride.

“I hate that for NASCAR,” Busch continued. “Like I said, years ago, I felt like I could make a bigger difference.

“We might have been an eighth-place car; I could win the race with that. Now, if you're a 20th-place car, you are finishing 20th to 22nd.”

Kyle Busch's 2026 season so far

Busch's comments come after a particularly rough start to the year at Richard Childress Racing, where he is yet to finish inside the top 10 through the opening nine races.

Things are only getting worse, too. While Busch finished in the top 20 at three of the opening four races, his best finish over the next five was 21st at Martinsville, with his worst coming last time out at Kansas, where the No. 8 came home in 35th.

Those results leave Busch languishing in 27th spot on 133 points heading to Talladega - 77 points adrift of 'The Chase' spots.