CONCORD, N.C. — Kyle Busch will continue driving the No. 8 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing (RCR) through the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, as announced on Saturday at Charlotte Motor Speedway. This extension confirms Busch’s ongoing commitment to the team, solidifying the partnership for the coming years.
Busch’s Performance and Recent Career Highlights
Since joining RCR in 2023 after leaving Joe Gibbs Racing, where he raced for 15 years, Busch has achieved three wins, 16 top-five finishes, and 31 top-10 results in 84 starts. Currently positioned 17th in the points standings, he trails the provisional cutoff for the playoffs by seven points. While he has not secured a win this season, Busch remains a key competitor on the track.
RCR’s Strategic Changes and Team Development
Busch has been a major influence in RCR’s offseason restructuring. The team promoted Mike Verlander to president, who brings experience from his prior roles at Kyle Busch Motorsports and Stewart-Haas Racing. Additional leadership changes include Torrey Galida advancing from president to vice chairman. The technical staff also strengthened with John Klausmeier appointed as technical director and Richard Boswell taking over as crew chief for the No. 3 car driven by Austin Dillon.
Austin Dillon’s Progress and Relationship with Busch
Austin Dillon, now in his 12th season with RCR, has improved his average finish this year to 18.4, marking more than a four-position increase compared to his 2024 campaign. As the grandson of the team owner, Dillon benefits from collaborating with Busch, a multiple Cup Series champion and winner of prestigious races such as the Coca-Cola 600 and Daytona 500. Dillon spoke about Busch’s approach as a teammate, saying,
“I feel like he gives you what you expect, which is that he’s a hard worker, He’s fiery. He wants the best for the cars. He wants to get to Victory Lane constantly and will push everyone to figure out how to make that happen, even himself on the track.”
—Austin Dillon, driver
“But as far as being in the meetings with him after practice and on Mondays and the debriefs, he’s very helpful. He asks good questions at the right time about what your car is doing, and he provides information that you can make your car better off of. So from that standpoint, you couldn’t ask for a more helpful teammate when it comes to his knowledge of the game and what he is providing from an informational standpoint.”
—Austin Dillon, driver
Looking Ahead to the 2025 NASCAR Season
Busch’s success includes his 2018 victory at the Coca-Cola 600 held at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where the 2025 race is scheduled to begin Sunday at 6 p.m. ET. Fans can follow the event on Prime Video, PRN Radio, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. With this contract extension, Busch and RCR aim to build on their recent progress and maintain their competitive edge in upcoming seasons.
