Kyle Busch doesn’t shy away from the hard truths, and 2025 gave him plenty of them. Finishing a career-worst 21st in points, the two-time Cup Series champion was busy fighting frustration instead of contenders. A season that never found its footing left Busch with a bitter taste. But not for long.

His top-five finish at Phoenix offered a small spark at the end and a chance to put a bruising season behind him, finally. The 40-year-old driver is ready to move on. With 2026 just right around the corner, the multi-time NASCAR Champion is plotting his comeback along with Richard Childress Racing, which is also making some major organizational changes.

RCR to make major shifts ahead of 2026; Kyle Busch trusts the process

For RCR new members are coming into power. Jim Pohlman, who previously guided Justin Allgaier in JR Motorsports’ NASCAR Xfinity Series, is making the move to RCR to take over the Cup Series crew chief role. He replaces Andy Street, who handled the final five races after Randall Burnett, the architect of Busch’s trio of 2023 wins, stepped aside. Can one new member joining the team fix all the issues? Kyle Busch certainly things so. The 40-year-old driver believes Pohlman’s arrival will bring a fresh perspective and energy that the team desperately needs.

Things did not go as planned for Busch and his team. The former owner of KBR Motorsports opened up about his poor season. He said, “I’m not giving grades. It hasn’t been a good one. We all know that and got to get better.” And 2026 will arrive with major changes for the No. 8 group. After a second consecutive year without a win under the Richard Childress Racing banner, Busch has a new voice atop the pit box.

While prepping for the 2026 season, Kyle Busch is looking forward to working alongside new management. He believes things will be going in the right direction from the off-season itself, especially with building his relationship with Jim Pohlman.

While Rowdy navigates changes around his team, RCR as a whole is also undergoing a deeper organizational push. Austin Dillon, driver of the No. 3 and grandson of team owner Richard Childress, has taken on a more active role within the operation. Dillon’s numbers in 2025 mirrored the prior year, with his win at Richmond standing as his lone top 5 result, but his average finish improved under the new crew chief Richard Boswell.

Now, Austin Dillon believes that the collective leadership group forming at RCR has the potential to elevate both teams. He is confident that Pohlman is a great addition to the team. He also stated that his father, Mike Dillon, is set to become more involved once again.

For Kyle Busch, the long resume speaks for itself: NASCAR’s all-time winningest driver across the national series with 63 victories, 67 in the truck series, and a staggering 102 in the Xfinity. Yet the past two seasons have been far quieter on the results sheet. Through 2 decades at the top level, the No. 8 driver has learned that rebuilding momentum often takes patience, structure, and a steady progression.

He added, “There’s still a building process that’s got to take place to get us to that avenue. And being most consistent each and every week and finishing consistently in the top five is the easiest way to prove that you’re capable of your next win. So we’ve got to get to that point first.”

And with the changes underway, the spotlight will definitely be on the two-time Cup Series champion next year, but for now, the No. 8 driver isn’t sitting idle in the postseason and has laid out his plans for December.

Kyle Busch is set to return to the Snowball Derby

Kyle Busch is heading back to the Snowball Derby this December, looking for a third victory in one of short track racing’s most respected events. Whether that includes being one of NASCAR’s winningest drivers, he understands exactly what the Derby means within stock car circles and why it remains such a coveted event.

This time, Danny Stockman will call the shots atop the No. 51 Lucas Oil Chevrolet for Bryson Lopez Racing. Stockman comes in with momentum, having just clinched the Xfinity Series championship with Jesse Love and RCR, adding even more experience to an already strong pairing.

Busch isn’t showing up just to participate; he’s entering because he believes he can win. His previous victories at the Pensacola track came in 2009 and 2017, and now, eight years after his last one, he’s giving it another run.

Busch said, “It’s been a few years since I’ve been to Pensacola, but I haven’t forgotten how to get around Five Flags. The Snowball Derby is one of those bucket list races you always want to win again and again, and I’m fired up to be back with the No. 51 Lucas Oil team and FloRacing. We’re showing up to take that trophy home.”

With the 40-year-old’s skill and Stockman’s leadership, they are far from long shots, and a strong showing here could be exactly the confidence boost the RCR driver needs heading into the 2026 season. Can Busch and his team get back to winning ways in 2026? Share your thoughts below.