The echoes of the winless 2024 season haunted Kyle Busch and the No. 8 team as they entered 2025. After an offseason that included a reshuffling of Richard Childress Racing’s technical staff, Busch found early momentum, including a strong finish of 5th at Circuit of the Americas. But aside from that, the team has still been far from form, like his three-win 2023 season. Amidst this, good news about internal changes coming up for the 2026 season signals a much-needed upturn for Rowdy.

Denny Hamlin also noted the need for a change for Busch and his team, stating earlier this year, “I think he needed a change. I think all parties kind of need a change, and certainly Kyle’s going through it right now. Certainly, the performance is not there. I am a believer that Kyle Busch still has the ability to go win races.” And that change is now here.

Kyle Busch gets new leadership ahead of 2026

Richard Childress Racing announced this week that Jim Pohlman will return to the organization in 2026 as crew chief for Kyle Busch and the No. 8 team in the NASCAR Cup Series. Pohlman previously served as RCR’s head of research and development before taking over as crew chief of the No. 7 Chevrolet with Justin Allgaier at JR Motorsports in 2023, where he built a winning Xfinity Series program, including nine victories.

He guided Allgaier to a Championship 4 appearance in their rookie year and helped him secure his first Xfinity Series championship in 2024. “Everyone at Richard Childress Racing remains focused on improving performance and is committed to putting the right people in place, including on the No. 8 team,” said Childress, Chairman and CEO of Richard Childress Racing.

“Jim Pohlman is a relentless competitor in the garage and fits in well with our mission and approach at RCR. He was well-respected during his previous tenure in Welcome, and we know that he will do a great job leading the No. 8 team and Kyle Busch,” he continued.

Prior to joining JR Motorsports in 2023, where he built a strong Xfinity program, Pohlman had been an industry veteran since the late 1990s, with experience primarily on the Cup side. This included serving as an interim crew chief for Juan Pablo Montoya in 2011. Pohlman will replace Randall Burnett, who is leaving the organization to pursue another opportunity in the sport.

The departure of Burnett from RCR, on the other hand, has been confirmed as a move to Trackhouse Racing. Burnett will take on the role of crew chief for rising star Connor Zilisch in the NASCAR Cup Series, starting in 2026, marking Zilisch’s full-time rookie season in the top level of the sport.

“I’m excited about my opportunity over there, and you know, obviously, something’s got to change on this 8 car. We haven’t been performing the way we needed to. I think everybody needs a fresh start. I got a really good opportunity with where I’m going. Obviously, Connor’s a great young talent… So, you know, just kind of all worked out,” Burnett said.

In the meantime, Andy Street will continue to serve as the interim crew chief of the No. 8 Chevrolet for the remainder of the 2025 season. Meanwhile, Justin Allgaier will have a new chief, marking a fresh chapter for both him and Pohlman as they move into their respective 2026 campaigns. While Busch now shows signs of a resurgence after a satisfactory Las Vegas night.

Kyle Busch eyes NASCAR playoff momentum

Kyle Busch entered the Las Vegas playoff race hoping to reverse his challenging 2025 season, which included just 2 top-5s, 8 top-10s, and 62 laps led across 32 races. The two-time Cup Series champion ran a steady race, gradually moving through the field. By Lap 254, he had worked his way inside the top-10, trailing notable competitors like Chase Briscoe, Joey Logano, and Kyle Larson.

Speaking after the race, Busch expressed satisfaction with his team’s effort, saying, “I’m proud of the entire No. 8 Chevrolet team for getting us to a place from qualifying 32nd to finishing eighth today at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. We worked throughout the race to correct rear grip issues and a loose-handling Chevy to get the car to a competitive pace by race’s end. Now the name of the game is consistency and continuing to finish out front the remainder of the season, and of course, get our Richard Childress Racing machine back to victory lane.”

The strong performance came after a disastrous outing at Charlotte, where Busch was taken out on the final lap. Highlighting the need for improvement, he noted, “Some consistency, you know, just some more of knowing why we’re doing what we’re doing instead of some sort of shooting from the hip, if you will.”

With momentum on his side and a new crew chief to take over soon, Busch now looks ahead to Talladega and Martinsville, hoping to translate steady finishes into a playoff breakthrough.