NASCAR Star Kyle Busch Faces Longest Winless Streak of Career

The once-dominant driver is searching for a return to form as he enters a contract year with a new team

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Kyle Busch, a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, is currently in the midst of a 94-race winless streak, the longest of his career. After leaving Joe Gibbs Racing, where he found tremendous success, Busch joined Richard Childress Racing in 2023 but has struggled to recapture his previous form. As he enters a contract year, the 40-year-old driver is hoping to rediscover his winning ways and cement his legacy as one of NASCAR's all-time greats.

Why it matters

Busch's decline has been surprising given his past dominance, and it raises questions about the challenges of maintaining a high level of performance in NASCAR, especially as teams and technology evolve. His struggles also highlight the importance of sponsorship and resources in the sport, as the loss of his longtime sponsor Mars contributed to his departure from Gibbs Racing.

The details

Busch won 232 races across NASCAR's three national series during the first two decades of his career, including Cup Series titles in 2015 and 2019. However, since joining RCR in 2023, he has won just three races and has failed to make the playoffs the last two seasons. Busch believes RCR was ahead of the curve with the introduction of NASCAR's Next Gen car, but the competition has since caught up and surpassed the team's capabilities.

  • Busch won the pole for the 2026 Daytona 500 but finished 15th, extending his Daytona 500 winless streak to 21 races.
  • Busch won three races in the first 15 events of the 2023 season but has not won since.
  • Busch filed a $8.5 million lawsuit against an insurance company in October 2025, alleging they failed to properly disclose the risks of certain policies.

The players

Kyle Busch

A 40-year-old NASCAR driver who is a two-time Cup Series champion and holds the record for most wins across NASCAR's three national series with 232 victories.

Richard Childress Racing

The NASCAR team that Kyle Busch joined in 2023 after leaving Joe Gibbs Racing, where he found tremendous success.

Jim Pohlman

The new crew chief for Kyle Busch at Richard Childress Racing, who previously won the Xfinity Series championship in 2024 with Justin Allgaier.

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What they’re saying

“If I don't ever win it, I'm going to have to be happy with not ever winning it. I've pretty much fulfilled my career. If it were to end yesterday, I would be happy with everything.”

— Kyle Busch (news4jax.com)

“Honestly, if you're not with a Gibbs team or a Hendrick team or a Penske team, it doesn't seem like many other teams win races.”

— Kyle Busch (news4jax.com)

“At some point, it starts drying up. It did for me and it will for others. None of us know where that is for Kyle right now until he decides to step away. But there is a moment out there for everyone where production just goes down. Whatever it is, it dries up. I hope that isn't the case for him. He's such a talent.”

— Jimmie Johnson (news4jax.com)

What’s next

The judge in Busch's $8.5 million lawsuit against the insurance company will decide on Tuesday whether to allow him out on bail.

The takeaway

Busch's struggles highlight the challenges even the most talented drivers can face in NASCAR as teams and technology evolve. His search for a return to form serves as a reminder that even the greatest careers can have unexpected downturns, and that maintaining success at the highest level requires constant adaptation and innovation.