Kyle Busch spoke candidly about ongoing grip difficulties affecting his No. 8 RCR Chevrolet during the Chicago Street Race on July 6, which caused him to spin early in the event. Despite this challenge, the Las Vegas driver rebounded strongly to secure a fifth-place finish, matching his best result of the season.
Busch started well at The Grant Park 160, climbing into the top three and reaching as high as second place in Stage 1. However, by lap 34, his worn tires made it difficult to stay competitive, leading to a spin from sixth position. His race was further compromised after being penalized for exceeding pit stall limits, dropping him to 31st in Stage 2.
Reflecting on the incident, Busch told NBS Sports,
“We got a good jump on the initial start there and was able to roll forward and get to third. We tried to go long on that first set of tires, and with those couple of cautions, it didn’t fall into our favor. That put us on old tires and I spun out getting into (turn) seven. We just didn’t have any left-rear grip. That’s something we’ve struggled with on this car, and it just bit me there.”
This strong fifth-place finish marked Busch’s only other top-five result this season and boosted him four positions in the driver standings to 16th. Meanwhile, Shane Van Gisbergen not only won the race but also completed a weekend sweep for RCR by securing pole position.
Team Accountability and Playoff Concerns Ahead of the Final Races
Despite the encouraging result in Chicago, Busch faces continued pressure as he remains 59 points shy of the playoff cutoff with just seven races left in the regular season. The threat of missing the postseason for a second consecutive year looms over the veteran driver and his team.
Busch emphasized collective responsibility within his squad, stating,
“I think it just boils down to all of us on our team being accountable. Pit crew, myself, (crew chief) Randall (Burnett), engineers, everybody and being able to do what we know how to do and what we’re paid to do and that’s to execute,”
He also endured a narrow miss just outside the top 20 at Atlanta, a result that cost him in Round 1 of the In-Season Challenge against Brad Keselowski, who finished in second place.
Throughout the 2024 campaign, Busch has struggled to find consistent form, averaging a finish in 17th place and frequently failing to be competitive. His last victory was recorded in June 2023, and he has since gone 76 races without a win, far removed from his peak as a two-time Cup Series champion.
Implications for Kyle Busch and RCR as Playoffs Approach
The grip issues and inconsistent finishes highlight ongoing challenges for Busch and his RCR team as the playoffs near, underscoring the urgency to improve performance. If the team cannot solve their problems, Busch risks a repeat absence from the postseason, which would be a significant setback for the driver and organization.
With the regular season winding down, Busch must address mechanical limitations and execute flawlessly to climb the standings and secure a playoff spot, making the next seven races critical for his hopes of ending the season on a strong note.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Where will Kyle Busch go in 2026?
A. If you press escape, it will cancel and close the window. In Concord, N.C., it was announced that Kyle Busch will keep driving the No. 8 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing until the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. Both Busch and RCR made this announcement on Saturday at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Q. Where will Kyle Busch be in 2026?
A. CONCORD, N.C. — Kyle Busch will keep driving the No. 8 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing until the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. He and RCR shared this news on Saturday at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Q. Will Kyle Busch retire?
A. Kyle Busch has decided to continue racing with Richard Childress Racing until 2026, stating that he isn’t thinking about retirement yet. The two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion hopes to race with his son Brexton in NASCAR’s Craftsman Truck Series, which is still six years in the future.
Q. Why did Kyle Busch restart 4th?
A. Moran explained that the order was arranged using scoring loop data. “That was the last loop recorded for the leaders,” Moran said. The decision was about whether he was part of the accident. They concluded he was not part of the crash but managed to avoid it.
