Kyle Busch had a quiet yet reserved start to the 2020 season. Busch, crashed out in Daytona but was a top three finisher in the final two races before the coronavirus break. Even after the 70 day layoff, he was still a top five finisher.

Notice, I keep using the word “finisher” not car.

Between Fontana and Atlanta, Busch had six top four finishes, three of which runner-ups even, in an eight race span. While the finishes were there in his No. 18 Toyota, the speed wasn’t.

As we near the midway mark of the season, it’s still not there. Busch, still hasn’t won in 2020. The defending Cup Series champion’s last win came at Homestead last November.

If you go back to a full year ago, he has just one win during this time frame. What’s concerning is, Busch isn’t vying for wins at all. Yes, some of his finishes have been great, but that’s due to others mistakes.

Busch, had no stage wins in 2020. He has no playoff points. He’s only led 139 laps all year and 100 of those were at Bristol at the end of May.

The most troublesome is, I expected his winless streak to end over the last four race stretch. He had two shots at Pocono, one at Indy and one Sunday in Kentucky.

Busch, came to Pocono a three time winner in his last five starts there. He went to Indy having won there back-to-back (2015, 2016) and typically always in contention at the Brickyard. Then, it was to the Kentucky Speedway where Busch had three straight top five finishes including six in his last seven tries.

He was runner-up last year to his brother Kurt. He had three top two finishes in his last six years. Factor in this and giving him the pole via a draw for the Quaker State 400 and it would be interesting to what he could do with clean air.

Unfortunately, he didn’t do much. He led nine laps early then was passed. From there, he faded further into oblivion. Busch, was only 13th in Stage 1, 14th in Stage 2 and felt his car was broken from there on out. He’d limp home a disappointing 21st. With his best tracks behind him, what makes us think that this winless streak will end any time soon?