Stuck in neutral: Former Cup champs Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski looking to change the tide

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch appeared in a "Back to the Future" spoof for NASCAR to celebrate the return of the championship race to Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2026.

The two drivers won their Cup titles at Homestead. Keselowski earned the trophy in 2012. Busch won his in 2015 and 2019. 

These days, they seem as far away from a championship as they have ever been. Even when they show speed, they have found their days ruined. 

Take the race Sunday at Kansas Speedway. Keselowski was running second when he had a flat tire, wrecked and wound up 37th. He sits 33rd in the series point standings. Busch didn’t run as strong as Keselowski but was running 14th when he spun and lost 15 spots. He sits 18th in the standings after his 21st-place finish.

"Just lots of things not coming together," Keselowski said. "And that's how the sport goes. And you ride the wave, and we're on the bad side of the wave. But we're going to push hard to get to the right side."

Last week, Busch spun on his own while running near the front at Texas. The Kansas wreck occurred as Ross Chastain, Josh Berry and Noah Gragson were all on the outside of him in a four-wide situation where the other three cars pin-balled off each other and into Busch.

Prior to the race, Busch lamented his season, a career in which he has won 63 Cup races, 102 Xfinity races and 67 truck races (232 total).

"You live for those moments of being able to go get it and get a win and boom, we're in the wall [and] we're crashed," Busch said. "I don't know why or what, but I've been rewarded 230-plus times for being able to go get it and go get the win when it comes down to it.

"And now it seems like I get penalized for trying."

Busch appears to have more speed than