When a two-time Cup Series champion is stuck in a drought, you call in a winner. That was the clear mandate at Richard Childress Racing, culminating in the major announcement that veteran Jim Pohlman will take the reins as Kyle Busch’s crew chief for the 2026 Cup Series season. Pohlman will be replacing Randall Burnett, who has been announced as the new crew chief for Connor Zilisch at Trackhouse Racing in his 2026 Cup Series debut.

But to find the solution to RCR’s problems, Richard Childress has to poach a talent from a direct competitor. Before his move back to RCR, Pohlman was an undeniable star at Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s JR Motorsports. As crew chief for Justin Allgaier and the No. 7 Chevrolet in the Xfinity Series since 2023, the pairing amassed 9 wins and captured the dramatic 2024 Xfinity Series championship at Phoenix Raceway. And now, he returns with yet another victory in mind.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., on seeing Pohlman advance to NASCAR’s biggest stage

This transition for Kyle Busch to a new crew chief at RCR has generated significant conversation within the NASCAR community, with veteran Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Dale Jr. Download podcast co-host TJ Majors sharing their optimistic perspectives. Junior provided a deep insight into Pohlman’s specific strengths, saying, “I think Jim can do it, man. He’s detailed. He works his tail off, and he is in the details.” In the era of Next Gen cars, success is often determined by meticulous attention to the smallest variables.

Emphasizing the hyper-competitive and technically constrained nature of the current car, Junior concluded with a detailed explanation of where the advantage lies, noting, “And that’s what it’s going to take, especially with that car, the kit car that the Cup guys are racing. Every thousandth of a fraction of a freaking inch in every little piece and part is what you’ve got to work for to gain an advantage. You’ve got to add it all up. He is into it. I think he’ll have some success there.”

This echoes a growing sentiment in the garage that marginal gains through technical precision and execution are paramount, moving away from radical, custom designs that defined the previous eras. The Next Gen car, introduced in 2022, was designed to level the playing field, making component specification and setup execution critical. Pohlman’s reputation for an intense work ethic and his prior R&D experience at RCR suggest that he is the kind of technical mind needed to extract maximum performance from the standardized No. 8 Chevrolet.

Adding to that, Majors highlighted the personal and professional qualities of the incoming crew chief, stating, “Exciting for Jim, though, man. I didn’t know a lot about Jim until we got here, and he’s been nothing but great to work with. Great guy, and he’s earned this.” Pohlman’s credentials speak volumes, as he has a history of success in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

The sentiment of him being the perfect fit for Kyle Busch resonates with his career trajectory, having previously served as the Head of Research and Development at RCR. Majors continued to express his enthusiasm for the new pairing, particularly for the crew chief’s long-awaited opportunity. He remarked, “It’s always fun to see a crew chief like Jim get this opportunity with Kyle Busch, you know what I mean? Get the ship right.”

Despite a strong first year with RCR in 2023, which saw Busch win three races, the 2024 season marked a career-long Cup Series winless streak and a 2nd consecutive year missing the playoffs. Majors continued, “I still think Kyle can win races.” This conviction is well-founded, as Rowdy is 9th on the all-time Cup Series wins list with 63 victories and holds the all-time record for total wins across NASCAR’s top three national series. So, while a recent slump is undeniable, Busch’s past performance, including two Cup Series championships, proves his hidden capabilities.

This has fueled the hope that this new partnership will be key to Kyle Busch’s return to consistent Victory Lane appearances next season. On the other hand, Dale Jr. has announced exciting news for JRM’s Xfinity Series campaign in 2026.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. adds rising NASCAR star to his 2026 lineup

JR Motorsports has found its next young standout in Rajah Caruth. On October 21, 2025, the team announced that the 23-year-old Washington, D.C. native will drive the No. 88 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet part-time in the 2026 NASCAR Xfinity Series. The move places one of the sport’s fastest-rising prospects within one of NASCAR’s premier development programs, underscoring JRM’s ongoing focus on cultivating the next generation of talent.

Caruth’s journey has been anything but typical. From learning the ropes on iRacing to becoming a multi-time Truck Series winner for Spire Motorsports, his rise has captured the sport’s imagination. “This is about growth, learning from the best, racing the best, and preparing for the best,” Caruth said following the announcement. His success in Trucks made him a natural fit for JRM’s evolving driver lineup, especially as the team restructures around emerging names like Carson Kvapil and Connor Zilisch.

For Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the JRM leadership, bringing Caruth aboard continues a legacy of development that has produced stars like William Byron and Chase Elliott. The No. 88’s return under HendrickCars.com ties Caruth directly to NASCAR’s most successful modern ecosystem. With his combination of discipline, adaptability, and technical acumen, Caruth now stands poised to turn a part-time Xfinity schedule into his next defining leap.