RCR Drivers Busch and Dillon Struggle to Start 2026 NASCAR Season

Kevin Harvick offers insight into the challenges facing Richard Childress Racing's top drivers.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 8:53pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting NASCAR race cars in the colors of Richard Childress Racing, with the vehicles and drivers broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes and planes, conveying the technical challenges the team is working to overcome.A cubist interpretation of the struggles facing RCR's NASCAR team, as they work to diagnose and address the technical issues impacting their top drivers.Dillon Today

NASCAR veteran Kevin Harvick expressed uncertainty about the struggles of Richard Childress Racing (RCR) drivers Kyle Busch and Austin Dillon to start the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. Through the first eight races, Busch has yet to record a win or top-10 finish, while Dillon is also winless and lacking strong results. Harvick suggested the issues stem from a lack of attention to critical details in the team's car preparation and simulation processes.

Why it matters

RCR has been a prominent NASCAR team for decades, but the early-season struggles of its two star drivers have raised questions about the organization's competitiveness. Busch and Dillon are both former Cup Series champions, so their inability to contend for wins has been surprising and concerning for RCR's outlook this season.

The details

According to Harvick, the keys to success in NASCAR come down to attention to detail, from the chassis preparation to the body panels. He believes RCR and the broader Chevrolet camp have 'a lot to work through' in terms of their processes and tools, which is leading to the team's lack of performance. Busch, a two-time Cup champion, has not won a race since 2023 and missed the playoffs the last two seasons. Dillon, RCR's other full-time driver, last visited Victory Lane in 2025.

  • Through the first 8 races of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season
  • Kyle Busch's last win came at Gateway in 2023
  • Austin Dillon's last win came at Richmond in 2025

The players

Kevin Harvick

A veteran NASCAR driver and host of the 'Kevin Harvick's Happy Hour' podcast, where he discussed the struggles of RCR.

Kyle Busch

A two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion who is in his fourth season driving for Richard Childress Racing. He has not won a race or recorded a top-10 finish through the first 8 races of the 2026 season.

Austin Dillon

A full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver for Richard Childress Racing since 2014. Like his teammate Kyle Busch, Dillon has not won a race or recorded a top-10 finish through the first 8 races of the 2026 season.

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What they’re saying

“I don't know that answer because I'm not within the walls. I can tell you that the keys to this racecar are details. It is how many details can you stack. That starts from when you get the chassis in the shop to the body panels that go on the car.”

— Kevin Harvick, NASCAR Driver and Podcast Host

“When you see some struggles like they're having... You look at the Chevrolets in general. They've had a lot to work through. This is all about details. If you're struggling, it's all about your processes and your details and your simulation and your tools and who's putting all that stuff into the simulator and what you're getting out of the simulator into the simulation and how you put those and adapt those things to the setup of the car.”

— Kevin Harvick, NASCAR Driver and Podcast Host

What’s next

The RCR team will look to address the issues with their car preparation and simulation processes in order to help Kyle Busch and Austin Dillon return to contending for wins and playoff spots as the 2026 NASCAR season progresses.

The takeaway

The early-season struggles of RCR's top drivers highlight the importance of attention to detail in NASCAR, from chassis setup to simulation data, as even championship-caliber teams can falter if they don't have their processes dialed in. Harvick's insights suggest the Chevrolet camp as a whole has work to do to catch up to the competition.