Kyle Busch, driving the No. 8 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, is gearing up for the 2026 Daytona 500 with renewed focus. During Daytona Media Day, Busch shared insights into working with his new crew chief, Jim Pohlman, emphasizing the positive influence Pohlman brings to the team’s dynamic as they pursue victory.
“Working with Jim has been good. He’s a very determined guy. He wants to make a difference and be the difference maker here at RCR and the 8 car and having us have a better chance of being able to reach Victory Lane each and every week. It’s all about being able to extract the most out of the people, whether it’s everybody at the shop or whether it’s your team at the racetrack, the pit crew, all those guys. I feel like he’s got everybody really looking up to him and believing in him and his way. That’s been good.”
– Kyle Busch, NASCAR Driver
Race Strategy and Positioning Goals for the Daytona 500
When asked about race strategy and where he aims to be during the race and at its conclusion, Busch reflected on the unpredictable nature of the Daytona 500. Referencing past races, he acknowledged that while drivers often want to lead, the outcome can vary greatly depending on how the race unfolds.
Fellow Chevrolet driver Daniel Suarez shared his perspective from previous years, explaining the unpredictability of being in the lead at high-stakes moments.
“I don’t know. Two years ago, when we were here, Austin Dillon and myself got the lead. We were in the control of the race. We were running first and second when we came off of Turn 4. I saw the white flag in the flag man’s hand, and unfortunately, a caution came out as we got to the front side of pit rod entry. And after that, we weren’t able to hold the lead on the restarts, but I led mile marker 500. That’s just the way it goes… you just never know how it’s exactly gonna end. So, to be out front, you feel like that’s the safest spot to be, but sometimes you see guys spun out of the lead and they’re not the ones to win. There are guys that win coming out of Turn 2 and they’re in 7th place or they’re in 11th place, It just depends, you never know.”
– Daniel Suarez, NASCAR Driver
Evaluating the New Chevrolet Body Throughout the Season
Looking ahead at how the new Chevrolet car body will perform, Busch expressed anticipation about its impact over the course of the season. He expects the team to gain insights at upcoming speedway events, including the race in Atlanta, especially regarding the car’s downforce characteristics on different tracks.
Busch noted the historical competitiveness of new car bodies from various manufacturers, while pointing out that Kyle Larson secured the previous year’s championship driving the oldest body design.
“Obviously, you look at over the years, the brands that have come out with new bodies have been pretty competitive. Although, you look and you see Kyle Larson won the championship last year with the oldest body out there. Now, we’ve got a fresh one, and a new one, and maybe the advantages on Team Chevy.”
– Kyle Busch, NASCAR Driver
Reflections on Challenges and Motivation for the Upcoming Season
Busch candidly addressed recent struggles and the mental toll challenges have taken, emphasizing the importance of resilience to achieve success in a demanding sport. Though recent seasons have not yielded the dominance he strives for, Busch sees these difficulties as motivation to improve and expand winning opportunities.
“Challenges can be tough, it’s just the nature of how well you handle those challenges. You can obviously beat yourself down and get low. It’s all about trying to build yourself up and keeping yourself at the top level that you can be to go out there and achieve success. It hasn’t been the greatest the last few years. We’ve had some close calls and sometimes where maybe we could have won a race. We certainly haven’t been dominant forces of being up front leading laps and having those chances be at the regular each and every week. If you only have two opportunities to win races through the year versus having 20 opportunities to win races through the year, you’ve got a bigger opportunity, a bigger window, to get those wins having the 20 chances.”
– Kyle Busch, NASCAR Driver
The Path Forward for Kyle Busch and Richard Childress Racing
As the 2026 NASCAR season unfolds, Busch and the Richard Childress Racing team are focused on maximizing their performance, testing new equipment, and leveraging the leadership of Jim Pohlman. The combination of fresh technical developments and a determined team spirit aims to increase their chances of success at iconic events like the Daytona 500 and beyond.
Kyle Busch’s experience, coupled with Pohlman’s drive to inspire the entire crew at the shop and on the track, forms a foundation to navigate the season’s challenges. Their collective goal remains clear: to reach Victory Lane more often and strengthen their presence as frontrunners in the fiercely competitive NASCAR circuit.
