Kurt Busch’s career was filled with moments that defined champions, but few showcased his raw talent quite like his 2012 Sonoma performance. Racing with a broken trackbar in an underfunded car, Busch nearly pulled off one of NASCAR’s greatest upsets. With his Hall of Fame induction approaching, this gritty third-place finish is a testament to why he belongs among the sport’s elite.
How Did Busch End Up in Such a Desperate Situation?
The 2012 season started as a nightmare for Busch. After Team Penske released him following the 2011 campaign, the 2004 Cup Series champion found himself scrambling for a ride as the new season approached. Time was running out, and quality options were disappearing fast.
When Richard Petty Motorsports came calling, Busch made a surprising decision. He rejected their offer and instead signed with Phoenix Racing, a severely underfunded operation run by James Finch. The choice seemed questionable at the time, especially considering Phoenix Racing’s limited resources compared to more established teams.
The season results reflected those limitations. Busch finished 25th in the final standings, marking another winless campaign in his NASCAR career. However, this disappointing overall performance made his Sonoma heroics even more remarkable.
What Made Busch’s Sonoma Performance So Special?
Starting eighth at Sonoma Raceway, Busch quickly showed that driver skill could overcome equipment deficiencies. Despite piloting the inadequate No. 51 Chevrolet, he worked his way toward the front and began mounting a serious challenge for the win.
The real drama unfolded in the final 10 laps. Busch found himself breathing down race leader Clint Bowyer’s neck, setting up what could have been a stunning upset victory. Bowyer, driving his No. 15 Toyota Camry, was throwing block after block to protect his lead, but Busch refused to back down.
The two drivers went bumper to bumper, corner after corner, in a display of pure racing artistry. What made Busch’s charge even more impressive was his restraint. Despite having opportunities to spin Bowyer and steal the victory, he chose to race clean, showing the class that defined his career.
But here’s what made this performance legendary: Busch was doing all of this with a broken trackbar. The mechanical failure caused his rear end to become extremely loose, making the car nearly impossible to control. Yet somehow, he continued challenging for the win while wrestling with equipment that would have sent lesser drivers spinning into the wall.
A late-race miscue saw Busch hit the tire wall off Turn 11, which likely cost him a shot at victory. Still, he managed to salvage a brilliant third-place finish, turning what could have been a disaster into one of his career’s finest moments.
The performance left commentators amazed, with one exclaiming:
One of the greatest driving performances of Kurt Busch’s Hall of Fame career was at Sonoma in 2012.
Carried the car to the front and was all over Clint Bowyer for the win when the trackbar broke. Finished third anyway with the rear end flopping around.@KurtBusch | @RaceSonoma pic.twitter.com/j54q7avTGo
— Steven Taranto (@STaranto92) July 10, 2025
“What a great run for this Phoenix Racing team and Kurt Busch, when you think about it, he lost his ride at Penske racing during the off-season because of a lot of instances that happened over there. This is a great new beginning for Kurt Busch.”
The broadcast booth came alive watching the No. 51 Phoenix Racing Chevrolet shadow Bowyer’s Toyota, lap after lap. It was pure theater, the kind of racing that reminds fans why they fell in love with the sport in the first place.
In the end, Busch channeled all his frustrations from losing his Penske ride into pure racecraft. He took subpar equipment and nearly won a Cup Series race through sheer determination and skill. That third-place finish became a defining moment, proving that champions find ways to excel regardless of circumstances.