“As a 60 Cup race winner and two-time champion, he will be a valuable addition to Richard Childress Racing and the Chevrolet line-up.” This is what Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. Vice President, Performance and Motorsports, said when the news of Kyle Busch’s move to RCR in 2023 broke. Busch’s first year at RCR was promising, with three wins and a playoff appearance. However, his 2024 season was marked by frustration and a lack of victories in a well-documented downfall that saw him end a 19-year streak of winning a race every year.

The dismal performances raised questions about his future with the team. Now, as Busch enters the final year of his contract, his performance at Phoenix has provided a glimpse into RCR’s progress. In a recent interview, Busch shared insights into the team’s upgrades and what it means for their chances of securing a win.

Busch reflects on RCR’s upgrades

Before the start of the 2025 season, it felt like Kyle Busch’s time with RCR was starting to stagnate. With a lack of wins, not just for him but his teammates as well, doubts were raised over his future with the team. RCR responded by committing to give him the best possible car. His teammate and RCR owner Richard Childress’ grandson Austin Dillon acknowledged, “We try and give maximum effort every weekend, put him in the best position we can.” 

Speaking to Dustin Long after the Phoenix race, Busch spoke on the improvements to the #8 Chevrolet from last season. “I would say the step that we made from last year to this year was a really good step,” Busch said. He emphasized that another similar improvement could make them contenders for a win. “The same amount of step. If we do that again, then we can be a contender to race for a win,” he further added. This optimism reflects RCR’s efforts to enhance its car’s performance. However, he was completely honest about what the car lacked.

“There was a big change in how our car drove and felt, and the grip that it gave, but not enough of what I needed,” said Busch. Why does Busch feel it wasn’t enough? Well, Rowdy has been dominant at Phoenix Raceway throughout his career, notching up 2 wins during his Joe Gibbs Racing days and also a win in his first Cup season with Hendrick Motorsports in 2005. However, the switch to RCR has shown dismal results at the Desert Oddball.

In his five races at Phoenix with Richard Childress Racing, Busch has put up just two top-10 finishes, the rest have been outside the top 20, including the last three in a row! So yes, while he says the car felt better, it probably did, considering he finally got over his hump at Phoenix, but overall, it’s nowhere near how dominant he can be at a track like this.

Top Comment by Toby Wall

Noooo He is done.

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Debate

Kyle Busch’s 2025 season did not get off to a great start on paper. He DNF’d at Daytona after running at a top-5 pace, but he recovered well and placed 7th at Atlanta. Then, Busch’s performance started improving further, with him managing to come 5th at COTA (he would have even ended up winning the race if not for the late caution). Now, at Phoenix, he again put up a solid drive and finished 8th. While his performances are steadily improving, his 61 race winless streak must be looming over his head every night.

The improvements to RCR’s car are crucial for Busch’s success. Crew chief Randall Burnett has been working on fine-tuning the No. 8 Chevrolet. Together, they have earned 3 wins, 15 top-five, and 27 top-10 finishes in 72 races. However, Busch’s comments suggest that while progress has been made, more is needed to compete consistently for victories.

The team’s ability to deliver consistent results will determine whether Busch stays beyond his current deal. With Bank OZK’s sponsorship and ongoing car improvements, RCR is under pressure to meet Busch’s expectations and secure a contract extension. We wish Rowdy finds his way back to Victory Lane soon and reignites his winning streak. Hopefully, he proves that RCR’s efforts are truly worth it.

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Next, Kyle Busch’s Vegas challenge

NASCAR now heads to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the Pennzoil 400. Kyle Busch has a strong record at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, finishing in the top-10 in 6 of his last 10 races. However, there is a catch to that statistic. And it has to do with Richard Childress Racing once again. Out of those 6 top-10 finishes, just one came in an RCR Chevrolet! The rest were from his time at Joe Gibbs Racing.

His lone win at the track came during his first season with JGR back in 2009, when he started on pole and led 51 laps en route to the checkered flag. Kyle Busch has claimed the pole at Vegas only once since then, and that was in 2020, which he could not capitalize on, resulting in a 15th-place finish for Rowdy. However, despite not being amongst the wins yet in 2025, he has shown that RCR does have the speed to run amongst the leaders on certain tracks, and maybe next week could be a turning point for him.

The upcoming Vegas race is crucial for Busch, as it offers a chance to build on a solid start as he has posted three top-10s in four races so far. With a strong performance, Busch could reassert himself as a contender for the ultimate championship. As anyone familiar with Busch’s competitiveness knows, he won’t be satisfied with just a playoff seat.  What do you think? Will Kyle Busch end his winless streak in Las Vegas? Or will the number tick up to 62 as we move to Homestead the following week? Let us know in the comments!