Rowdy had us all guessing what his next move might be. Finally, the mystery is put to an end! Once hailed as a match made in heaven, Busch’s 2023 move to Richard Childress Racing (RCR) was supposed to be the start of a new dynasty for the two-time Cup Series champ. After all, this is the guy who’s racked up 63 career wins and two championship trophies, was seen worthy enough to take RCR back to the top.

But since joining RCR, the checkered flags have been few and far between. Busch kicked off 2023 with three wins in his first 16 races, raising hopes sky-high, but since then? A 69-race winless streak as of May 24, 2025, with an average finish of 18th this season—his best being a P5 at Circuit of the Americas—and just four top-10s in 12 starts. Fans are scratching their heads, wondering where the old “Rowdy” went.

It’s been a rough ride for Busch, who’s used to dominating tracks like Bristol (8 wins) and Texas (4 wins). His 2025 stats paint a grim picture: no poles, no laps led in half his races, and a string of finishes outside the top 15. Knowing that he is in his contract year, whispers about his future at RCR were growing louder. But here’s the kicker: despite the slump, Busch is still cashing in big time, and a fresh contract extension with RCR has everyone talking. Is he still the highest-paid driver in NASCAR, even with his recent struggles? Let’s dig into the numbers and see what this new deal means for Busch and the team.

Busch’s bank account might not be feeling the same pain as his win column, and his latest contract extension is proof he’s still a hot commodity. But with a short-term deal on the table, RCR’s got some big decisions looming about who’ll lead the team into the future.

Is Kyle Busch the highest-paid NASCAR driver?

Let’s talk about Kyle Busch for a sec—his racing might be in a rough patch, but man, his bank account is still doing laps around the competition! Even with his on-track struggles, Kyle’s off-track game is on fire. Back in 2024, he was the top dog on the NASCAR earnings list, pulling in a cool $16.9 million—that’s like $444,736 for every single race this two-time champ ran.

To put that in perspective, he’s outpacing the next guy, Denny Hamlin, by a solid $3 million, who made $13.1 million. It just goes to show how much of a draw Kyle still is. Even when he’s not winning, fans are still buying tickets, snapping up his merch, and sponsors are all over him. With 63 career wins and championships in 2015 and 2019, plus that fiery attitude that keeps him in the spotlight. Love him or hate him, Kyle still has that star power that keeps the cash rolling in.

On May 24, 2025, Busch and RCR announced a one-year contract extension at Charlotte Motor Speedway, securing his spot in the No. 8 Chevrolet through the 2026 season. Richard Childress, Chairman and CEO of Richard Childress Racing, didn’t hold back on his confidence in Busch, saying, “We’re proud to continue our relationship with Kyle Busch and remain focused on our shared goals of winning races and championships together. Kyle is a tremendous racer and ambassador of the sport for our fans and partners. Everyone at RCR is committed to putting the pieces in place to enhance the competition side of our business.” Childress’s words signal a clear intent to double down on Busch, even after a 69-race winless streak.

RCR’s recent moves, like promoting Andy Verlander to president and adding John Klausmeier as technical director and Richard Boswell as crew chief, show they’re serious about giving Busch the tools to succeed, aiming to replicate the magic of his 2023 wins at Fontana, Talladega, and Gateway. Busch echoed that optimism, reflecting on how much RCR has come to mean to him. “It’s an honor to race for Richard Childress, our partners, and team Chevy fans,” Busch said, his gratitude evident.

“I feel like my family and I have found a home at RCR, and it means a lot that Richard continues to put his trust into me. My chapter at RCR is not yet complete, and I know we are building something special here. I remain focused on adding more wins and a championship to our collective resumes, and I want to thank Richard for the steps he is taking to help put all of the necessary pieces into place to give us a legitimate shot at a championship.” He added.

Still, the one-year length of the deal raises questions. Busch’s $16.9 million haul in 2024 might keep him at the top of the earnings list. But his recent form—only four top-10s in 2025 and no wins since June 2023—puts pressure on him to perform. Childress and Busch are clearly banking on the team’s revamped structure to spark a turnaround, and with Busch’s history of dominance at tracks like Bristol and Texas, it’s not a bad bet. But if the wins don’t come soon, RCR might start looking elsewhere for its next championship contender, making 2026 a make-or-break year for the highest-paid driver in the sport.

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Who’s going to be the next face of RCR beyond 2026?

Busch’s one-year extension might keep him in the driver’s seat through 2026, but let’s be real—a year in NASCAR flies by faster than a lap at Daytona. With Busch turning 41 in 2026 and his recent form raising questions, RCR’s already got to be thinking about who could take the reins as the team’s main driver. One year is a short runway, and if Busch can’t rediscover his winning ways, the team might turn to younger talent to lead the charge.

It is not just Kyle Busch on the hot seat, even RCR needs to find its mojo back. They aren’t getting Tyler Reddick back, nor they are not lucrative enough for a driver like Corey Heim to turn his attention toward them. So this one-year deal is perhaps the window for both parties to make some progress, and that is through wins and playoff appearances. However, if things do not work out, RCR has some options they can rely on.

Although most fans would feel Austin Hill would be their preferred choice, Jesse Love’s addition to the Cup lineup makes more sense. He is young and has proven that he can find victory lane in the Xfinity Series. The more time he gets with the Next Gen car, the more he will adapt and work with it. There was a time when Tyler Reddick was the one leading the charge as the young blood at RCR, so banking on a young star could prove a good strategy for them in the long run.