Kyle Busch Seeks NASCAR Comeback After Losing Streak

The once-dominant driver looks to regain his winning ways at Richard Childress Racing.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Kyle Busch, a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, is facing a 94-race winless streak as he enters a contract year with a new crew chief at Richard Childress Racing. After a successful stint at Joe Gibbs Racing that included 232 career wins across NASCAR's three national series, Busch's career has tapered off, with RCR struggling to keep pace with the top teams. Busch is determined to return to his winning ways and prove he can still be a championship contender.

Why it matters

Busch's struggles are surprising given his Hall of Fame-caliber talent, and his inability to win the elusive Daytona 500 remains a glaring omission on his resume. As he enters the twilight of his career, Busch is facing an $8.5 million lawsuit against an insurance company and is looking to recapture the form that made him one of NASCAR's most dominant drivers.

The details

Busch moved to Richard Childress Racing in 2023 and showed early promise, winning three races in the first 15 events of the season. However, the checkered flags have since dried up, and Busch has struggled to keep pace with the top teams like Joe Gibbs Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, and Team Penske. RCR has fallen behind in the development of NASCAR's Next Gen car, and Busch believes the team has plateaued while the competition has surpassed them.

  • Busch won the pole position for the 2026 Daytona 500 but finished 15th, extending his Daytona 500 winless streak to 21 races.
  • Busch filed a $8.5 million lawsuit against Pacific Life Insurance Company in October 2025, alleging the company failed to reveal the true risks of the policies and provided false and negligent representations of what was supposed to be tax-free income for his retirement.

The players

Kyle Busch

A two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and one of the most successful drivers in NASCAR history, with 232 career wins across the three national series. Busch is currently in a contract year with Richard Childress Racing, looking to end a 94-race winless streak and regain his championship form.

Richard Childress Racing

The NASCAR team that Kyle Busch joined in 2023 after leaving Joe Gibbs Racing. RCR has struggled to keep pace with the top teams in the sport, and Busch believes the team has plateaued in the development of the Next Gen car.

Jim Pohlman

The new crew chief for Kyle Busch at Richard Childress Racing, brought in to help the team improve and start winning races again.

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What they’re saying

“Literally, these words came out of my mouth: 'See, it can be easy.'”

— Kyle Busch

“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

“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

What’s next

The judge in Busch's $8.5 million lawsuit against Pacific Life Insurance Company will decide on Tuesday whether to allow the case to proceed.

The takeaway

Kyle Busch's fall from NASCAR dominance is a cautionary tale of how even the most talented drivers can struggle to maintain their winning ways, especially when they leave the top teams. Busch's determination to recapture his championship form and end his Daytona 500 drought will be a key storyline to watch as he enters the twilight of his career.