Richard Childress Racing’s NASCAR Cup Sequence lineup will not change for 2026. Whereas Austin Dillon will proceed to pilot the No. 3 Chevrolet, the crew confirmed on Saturday that Kyle Busch has picked up an choice in his contract to proceed driving the No. 8 by means of 2026.
“We’re actually excited,” stated Childress, who gained six driver’s titles with Dale Earnhardt Sr. between 1986 and 1994. “You already know, that is extending our contract for one more yr, and we’re actually excited. Kyle has been nice to work with. All people had questions getting in. I like a driver that does not prefer to lose. We have labored laborious. We have got some thrilling issues arising. He and I are each alike in a single space – that we do not prefer to lose. We need to win races.
“I nonetheless assume Kyle will win him a championship, and we will have it at RCR. That is our plans. We have got numerous new issues coming. This automobile is rather a lot totally different. It is so engineer-driven that we’re stepping our engineering up extra. And I am enthusiastic about the way forward for the place we are able to go. Watching Kyle race and dealing with him, it has been an amazing pleasure. You already know, he is a champion. Here is the man that is gained over 200 NASCAR races. His profession will not be even near being over.”
There are few drivers who declare to have had as a lot success as Busch within the historical past of NASCAR. The 2-time NASCAR Cup Sequence champions leads present full-time drivers in race wins (63), however that does not imply it is all been easy crusing for him.
Centered on ending KB’s winless streak
Race winner Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing, 3CHI Chevrolet Camaro
Picture by: Rusty Jarrett / NKP / Motorsport Photographs
After ending a 15-year tenure with Joe Gibbs Racing, he joined Richard Childress Racing initially of the 2023 season. They gained three races of their first yr collectively, however after going winless in 2024, he missed the playoffs. Busch hasn’t gained in almost 70 races within the longest winless streak of his profession.
“We definitely have a vineyard and a champagne bistro there that we are able to get loads of booze to have time (after we do win),” stated Busch concerning the drought. “I’m excited for the subsequent win when it’s. We need to get again to that as quickly as potential. It has been slightly bit humbling, I might say. I really feel like there’s added occasions the place it’s motivation, and it will get you to have that itch of with the ability to need to get again to Victory Lane and to work as laborious because it probably must be. Belief me, my spouse, she sees that as properly, too, the place I am gone slightly bit greater than what I used to be, and so she’s on the actual fact of, ‘This higher be value it!’”
RCR earned a victory final yr with Dillon, however admits that he “felt like we let (Kyle) down some final yr by not successful a race. There’s issues that we have modified rather a lot to attempt to win. We’ll win a race this yr with him and hopefully Austin as properly. We’re working actually laborious. Like he stated, he hit the important thing level. You have to work smarter, and that is what we’re attempting to do. And I believe we have numerous good issues going.”
Not executed but
Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Picture by: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Photographs
One other query that always surrounds Busch is that of retirement. He’s now essentially the most skilled driver within the Cup Sequence subject with over 700 begins. However at 40 years previous, he does not have any fast plans of slowing down.
“No, no, by no means,” he stated of retirement. “There’s type of the imaginative and prescient or the plan, if you’ll, on with the ability to race in some Truck races with Brexton (his son, aged 10) alongside him. So clearly, that is six years from now earlier than he could make that begin. That might kind of be an thought of once I would take a look at stepping other than Cup Sequence racing. However, you recognize, it is a lengthy methods out.”
Images from Charlotte – Observe & Qualifying
Learn Additionally:
On this article
Nick DeGroot
NASCAR Cup
Kyle Busch
Richard Childress Racing
Be the primary to know and subscribe for real-time information electronic mail updates on these matters
Subscribe to information alerts
