Kyle Busch recorded his best finish of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season on Sunday at Watkins Glen.
However, on his way to an eighth-place result, the driver of the No. 8 requested that a doctor meet him at his bus following the race. Busch’s request for medical attention came over the radio at the beginning of stage three.
Kyle Busch during Watkins Glen race: “I need a shot”
As noted by Mike Joy during the FS1 broadcast of Sunday’s race, Busch had been feeling under the weather all week.
The two-time Cup Series champion battled a “sinus cold” throughout the week, and called for medical attention at the conclusion of Sunday’s Go Bowling at The Glen.
While he did not explain why, Busch asked his team over the radio for Dr. William Heisel to meet with him after the race.
“Can somebody try to find Bill Heisel? He’s the kindred doctor guy. Tell him I need him after the race, please,” Busch said.
Busch’s team then asked if the driver wanted the doctor to meet him at his car or at his bus following the race. The Richard Childress Racing responded:
“Bus. I’m going to need a shot.”
Aside from Joy’s comments and the radio chatter, no other information regarding Busch’s condition came out during the race.
Busch started Sunday’s race from the 21st position. The Las Vegas native ran in the top 10 for much of the 100-lap event and made his way to fifth by the time leader Shane van Gisbergen took the white flag.
Despite losing three positions on the final circuit, Busch brought home his RCR Chevrolet in eighth position. It was Busch’s second top-10 finish of 2026 and his best finish of the campaign.
Busch posts solid result at Watkins Glen amid difficult season
It was a quality day at Watkins Glen for Busch in what has been a trying season for the No. 8 team.
After 12 races in 2026, the 63-time Cup Series winner finds himself 24th in the points standings. Busch has led only 19 laps this season and has seven finishes of 20th or worse.
Despite the struggles, Busch has shown flashes of speed in the last three races. He picked up his first top-10 finish of the season at Talladega two weeks ago, coming home in the 10th spot.
Last week at Texas, the 41-year-old ran inside the top 10 for portions of the race. However, a late-race battle with John Hunter Nemechek thwarted Busch’s chances at a solid finish as he wound up 20th following the incident.
With a strong run at Watkins Glen, it is evident Busch and the No. 8 team have found something in recent weeks. Prior to Texas, the team made a crew chief swap, replacing Jim Pohlman with Andy Street atop the No. 8 pit box.
Busch has failed to make The Chase in the last two seasons with RCR. On top of that, he has not won a Cup Series race since June 2023. Busch is in a contract year with RCR amid his fourth season with the organization.
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