Kyle Busch shuts down Chase Elliott’s criticism of Darlington throwback weekend

Two times NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch has shared his thoughts on the criticism against Darlington throwback weekend.

Kyle Busch shuts down Chase Elliott’s criticism of Darlington throwback weekend

Chase Elliott and Kyle Busch (Via IMAGO)

The NASCAR Cup garage is at the Darlington Motor Speedway this season for the throwback weekend race of the 2025 season. The teams have fielded cars honoring the legends of the sport as well as the racers that produced special moments over the 75 years since NASCAR had its maiden Cup series race.

But unlike in the last 10 years, some drivers don’t seem to be big fans of the concept as some believes the festivities the paint schemes have once brought into the sport has become stale. Hendrick Motorsports’ 2020 Cup champion Chase Elliott, the most famous driver in the sport, was one of the many to criticize the tradition. But Kyle Busch is not buying these arguments.

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The two times Cup champion pointed out that the throwback weekend is intended for the fans in the grandstands and not the drivers. Its goal is to produce cool scheme that makes the fans cheer more and Busch asserted that he sees it happening every time they are at Darlington.

It’s for the people that are in the grandstands and for their pure joy in just seeing some of the older, cool schemes that come back to life in this day and age. So, if they’re all for it – trust me, I hear it all the time.

Kyle Busch told Dalton Hopkins of Frontstretch.

Further talking about the point, Busch highlighted how the throwback weekends scheme is often influenced by the sponsors. That’s why the ex-Joe Gibbs Racing driver has done a handful over throwback in the last 10 years.

I think I’ve had, in ten years, I might have had two or three throwbacks. Trust me, I hear it all the time that I don’t do throwbacks, and that’s not on me. That’s just the partners that we’re with.

Kyle Busch added.

Kyle Busch shared his thoughts on having a paints-scheme honoring him

Xfinity Series driver William Sawalich, is honored Kyle Busch with NOS Energy car. The veteran shared his thoughts about it, thanking the young racer and asserting he sees it as pretty cool. He then highlighted how fans really love nostalgic moments.

Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch (Via @KyleBusch/X)

Well, it took 10 years for somebody to finally do a Kyle Busch one. Thanks to William and the team on the Xfinity side. That’s pretty cool, to finally have one. You know, when I look at fan reception, I feel like the fans really love it, and even if some of the drivers may think it’s overblown or whatever, it’s not for us.

Kyle Busch said.

The comments from Kyle Busch shows he understand the true intentions behind having the throwback weekend. The criticism comes from drivers who isn’t understating the fans perspective, and it will be interesting to see how Busch’s comments might inspire these drivers to think different.