Kyle Busch Seeks NASCAR Resurgence After Losing Streak

The former champion looks to end his 94-race winless drought and recapture past success.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Kyle Busch, a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, is facing a career-long winless streak of 94 races as he transitions to a new team at Richard Childress Racing. After dominating the sport for years, Busch's performance has tapered off, and he is now seeking to resuscitate his career and challenge for championships again.

Why it matters

Busch's struggles are surprising given his Hall of Fame-caliber talent and past success. His inability to win races raises questions about the competitiveness of teams outside the sport's top organizations, as well as the challenges of adapting to NASCAR's new car design. Busch's resurgence could have major implications for the competitive landscape of the sport.

The details

Busch moved to Richard Childress Racing in 2023 after a successful tenure at Joe Gibbs Racing, where he won two Cup Series titles. Initially, the pairing with RCR seemed promising, as Busch won three races early in the 2023 season. However, the team has since fallen behind the sport's top organizations, and Busch has not won a race in the last two seasons, posting just 10 top-10 finishes each year. Busch believes RCR was ahead of the curve in developing NASCAR's Next Gen car, but the competition has since caught up and surpassed them.

  • Busch won the Daytona 500 pole in 2026 but finished 15th, extending his Daytona 500 winless streak to 21 races.
  • Busch moved to Richard Childress Racing in 2023 after leaving Joe Gibbs Racing.
  • Busch won three races early in the 2023 season, but has not won a race in the last two years.
  • Busch's son, Brexton, turns 11 this year and is following in his father's racing footsteps.

The players

Kyle Busch

A two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and Hall of Fame-caliber driver who is currently mired in a 94-race winless streak.

Richard Childress Racing

The NASCAR team that Kyle Busch joined in 2023 after leaving Joe Gibbs Racing.

Joe Gibbs Racing

The NASCAR team that Kyle Busch drove for earlier in his career, where he won two Cup Series championships.

Brexton Busch

Kyle Busch's 11-year-old son who is following in his father's racing footsteps.

Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt, and Richard Petty

NASCAR legends who share the record for most Cup Series championships with seven each, a mark that Busch had hoped to match before his recent struggles.

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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 (wbal.com)

“Literally, these words came out of my mouth: 'See, it can be easy.' We were just laughing. It can be easy. It's just a matter of how well-prepared you are and how good your stuff is.”

— Kyle Busch (wbal.com)

“When I don't have a sponsor, and they have a grandkid waiting in the wings, I'm the odd man out. I wanted to stay there, finish my career there and never leave. It was the same thing at Hendrick. I got forced out there. I got forced out at Gibbs.”

— Kyle Busch (wbal.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 (wbal.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 (wbal.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Kyle Busch out on bail for his $8.5 million lawsuit against an insurance company.

The takeaway

Kyle Busch's struggles to find success after dominating NASCAR for years highlight the challenges even elite drivers can face when moving to a new team or adapting to changes in the sport. His quest to recapture his past glory and win a Daytona 500 will be closely watched as he seeks to cement his Hall of Fame legacy.