Kyle Busch recently offered NASCAR fans a fascinating look into the sport’s evolution through a candid story about his past with Tony Stewart. During an appearance on Kevin Harvick’s “Happy Hour” podcast, Busch shared advice once given to him by the three-time Cup Series champion — wisdom that now seems out of step with how NASCAR works today.
The story came during a larger conversation about the aggressive driving style that’s become common in the sport. The discussion didn’t just reflect on a personal moment between two of NASCAR’s biggest names. It also showed how much racing culture and expectations have changed over the past decade.
As Busch sees it, the lessons that helped shape his generation of drivers may not hold up in today’s more aggressive environment, where risky moves are often the norm.
Las Vegas Showdown Sparked Tony Stewart’s Mentorship Moment for Kyle Busch
The key moment happened during a race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where a young Busch made a few moves that upset Stewart.
“I think it was Vegas. I made him mad at Vegas,” Busch said on Harvick’s show. “It was in the last 25 laps of the race, but I cut him off a couple of times, and he tried to get back at me, and he missed, and he ended up fencing himself off Turn 2. And I think I finished third. I think he ended up like 15th or 20th because he killed his car.”
“There’s no fixing what we’ve got going right now … They would much rather crash than win a race.”
Kyle Busch talks with @KevinHarvick about advice from Tony Stewart that may no longer apply to today’s young drivers. pic.twitter.com/MeeUceAIM6
— HarvickHappyHour (@HarvickHappyPod) March 21, 2025
But the fallout went beyond just that race. Busch said Stewart stayed upset for months before eventually calling him over to his bus for a 1-on-1 talk.
That meeting turned into a lasting lesson, as Stewart gave advice on racing smarter and being more calculated — traits that defined drivers like Mark Martin, Harvick, and Stewart himself.
Still, Busch says that advice doesn’t work in today’s NASCAR.
“So people ask me all the time, they are like, ‘Well, why don’t you take these kids under your wings and like teach them and tell them?’ I am like, ‘We are in a completely different era now,’” Busch said. “Like there is no fixing what we have got going right now with everybody running over everybody, I don’t get it.”
Busch’s point shows how much the sport’s mindset has changed. Today, many drivers seem more willing to cause wrecks than settle for safe finishes. That’s a major shift from the more controlled style that Stewart once preached.
As the sport keeps evolving, Busch’s story shows how even the best advice from racing legends might need a second look. NASCAR has changed, and so has the way drivers race.