NASHVILLE, TN - JUNE 30: Richard Childress talks to Kyle Busch 8 Richard Childress Racing zone/Thorntons Chevrolet prior to the running of the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series Ally 400 on June 30, 2024, at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, TN. Photo by Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire AUTO: JUN 30 NASCAR Cup Series Ally 400 EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon2406301758

May 15, 2026, 12:10 PM CUT

Kyle Busch’s Recent Form May Have Changed RCR Contract Talks

Going by his 2026 run, Kyle Busch's future in NASCAR does not look bright. Winless for nearly three seasons now, the Richard Childress Racing driver is in the last year of his contract, and his recent form does not indicate anything other than a separation. However, it's not all negative.

On Thursday, Jordan Bianchi shared his thoughts on the same in a column at The Athletic. Speaking about Busch's slump at the beginning of the season, he wrote that "a divorce felt inevitable."

However, the two-time Cup Series champion saw a recent surge in performance, picking up two Top tens in the last three races. This seems to have contributed to improved contract talks with RCR.

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 15: Kyle Busch 8 Richard Childress Racing zone Jalapeno Lime Chevrolet waves to the crowd prior to the running of the 68th NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series Daytona 500 on February 15, 2026 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, FL. Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire AUTO: FEB 15 NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon2602152098500

Bianchi further wrote that RCR and Kyle Busch are likely to remain together. "Despite the sluggish performance, it is increasingly likely that Busch and RCR will remain together, with Busch eventually signing an extension, team and league sources say," he penned.

Busch's last victory in the Cup Series came in June 2023, when he won the Enjoy Illinois 300 at the World Wide Technology Raceway. Ever since, he has been winless, and at 105 races without visiting Victory Lane, it's his worst record in NASCAR.

As Kyle Busch's situation was going from bad to worse, the team tried everything to get him back on track, as losing him and finding a driver of his calibre at this point seemed out of reach. As a result, there could be a contract extension in place anytime soon.

What supports this is how RCR is trying its best to get Busch up to the mark, and this includes the change of his crew chief thrice in seven months. Interestingly, after the recent change, Busch saw a performance improvement.

Kyle Busch reacts to Top 10 finish at Watkins Glen

Recently, Richard Childress Racing swapped out Kyle Busch's crew chief, Jim Pohlman, replacing him with Andy Street. The team wanted a significant performance improvement, something that started being visible with Busch's recent results, such as the top 10 at Watkins Glen.

"Strong day for the No. 8 Chevrolet. We were a Top 10 car for the majority of the race, and ended eighth here at Watkins Glen International," Busch said after the Go Bowling race, per Nate Ryan of NBC Sports.

"We made the adjustments and strategy calls we needed to drive forward and make up track position after qualifying 21st, despite battling a car that trended tight throughout the race. We ran out of fuel at the end of the race, but we’re still going home with our second Top 10 finish of the season," the RCR star further added.

The P8 at Watkins Glen was his second top ten in three races, which paints a better picture of the team's synergy. After 12 races, Busch is in 24th place in the Drivers' Standings with 217 points.

Written by

Sabyasachi Biswas

Edited by

Yask Kotak