By Sarah Talker,Total Apex Sports
Copyright yardbarker
In the high-stakes world of NASCAR, a driver is only as good as his team, and Kyle Busch knows this better than anyone. After a gut-wrenching season and a major shake-up on the pit box, the two-time champion is placing his faith in the hands of the folks who sign his paychecks.
Richard Childress and team president Mike Verlander. It’s been a tough road for Busch and the No. 8 team. The recent news that his crew chief, Randall Burnett, is heading to Trackhouse Racing for the 2026 season to guide rookie Connor Zilisch felt like another blow in a season full of them.
Burnett has been the voice in Busch’s ear since he made the jump to Richard Childress Racing in 2023, a partnership that started with a bang but has since fizzled out. With Burnett’s departure, Andy Street is stepping up to call the shots for the rest of this year, leaving a giant question mark hanging over the team’s future.
The Uncertainty That Looms
For Busch, it’s a moment of uncertainty, but also one of trust. He’s a racer, not an owner, and he’s relying on the front office to steer the ship in the right direction. “There’s got to be a greater plan with Richard (Childress) and (Mike) Verlander,” Busch shared with journalist Claire B. Lang.
“So, relying on those guys to make some good, educated decisions and calls… It’s their race team, not mine, but I want to obviously be a part of a winning team, and we are working towards that.
”That statement is pure Kyle Busch. It’s a mix of frustration, hope, and a racer’s fierce desire to win. He knows he can’t do it alone, and right now, he’s putting his career in the hands of his bosses, hoping they have a master plan to get the No. 8 car back to Victory Lane.
Was a Change Needed for Busch?
Sometimes, you just need to shake things up. Even Busch’s former teammate and current rival, Denny Hamlin, sees the logic in the crew chief swap. Hamlin, who knows Busch as well as anyone from their time together at Joe Gibbs Racing, didn’t mince words. “I think he needed a change. I think all parties need a change,” Hamlin stated.
“Certainly, Kyle’s going through it right now. The performance is not there. I am a believer that Kyle Busch still has the ability to go win races.”Hamlin’s words echo what many in the garage are thinking. The talent is still there. The fire is still there. But something just isn’t clicking.
The winless streak, stretching back to June 4, 2023, has been a heavy burden for a driver accustomed to celebrating multiple times a season. This year has been particularly brutal, with the RCR driver failing to make the playoffs and currently sitting 21st in the standings. It’s unfamiliar territory for one of the sport’s most decorated drivers.
What’s Next for Kyle Busch?
The rumor mill is always churning in NASCAR, and with Busch’s contract running through 2026, speculation is running wild. FOX Sports journalist Bob Pockrass weighed in on the situation, suggesting that while he believes Busch will win again, it might not be with RCR. “I think Kyle Busch wins again. I just don’t know whether it’s at RCR or not,” Pockrass said on Kevin Harvick’s podcast.
“He can’t be happy, and if they continue to run the way they’ve been running, he’ll want to leave.”Pockrass even threw a new name into the mix: Spire Motorsports. “I think Spire would like to have him and see what they can do with him.” It’s a tantalizing thought. The veteran champion is joining an ambitious, up-and-coming team. For now, though, Busch is focused on what’s in front of him.
Final Thoughts
The season isn’t over, and every race is another chance to break the slump. With the Bank of America Roval 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on the horizon, Busch and his team have another shot to prove they can still get it done. It’s a tough road ahead, but if there’s one thing we know about Kyle Busch, it’s that you can never count him out. He’s a fighter, and he’s trusting his team to give him a car that can fight with him.
