Kyle Busch will continue racing for Richard Childress Racing through the 2026 season, following a recent contract extension announced during the NASCAR Cup Series, despite not having claimed a victory since June 2023. The Richard Childress Racing contract extension for Kyle Busch comes amid speculation about his future with the team as he pursues a playoff spot and looks to end his winless streak.
Battling Through a Season of Challenges
On June 8 at Michigan International Speedway, Kyle Busch managed an eighth-place finish, marking his first top-10 result after a six-race dry spell. Although content to break his streak outside the top ten, the Las Vegas native had been hoping for a better outcome to boost his standing in the NASCAR Cup Series with the North Carolina-based Richard Childress Racing team.
Busch is in his third year piloting the No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro, and with a single win, he would secure a place in the playoffs. However, victory has proved elusive since June the previous year. In a post-race interview following his Michigan run, the two-time Cup Series champion shared his feelings about the performance:
“Solid weekend for this Chevrolet team. Qualifying second was a positive and it helped to start the race with clean air. We struggled with a lack of grip and speed in the race, but crew chief Randall Burnett did a good job with adjustments. We wanted more but to come out of here with a top-10 finish, we’ll take what we got.”
—Kyle Busch, driver
Despite the lack of wins this season, Busch remains the most successful driver across NASCAR’s three national series, holding records in both the Xfinity Series, with 102 victories, and the Craftsman Truck Series, with 67. Altogether, his 232 wins set him apart in the sport’s history.
Current Standings and Upcoming Races
With fifteen races completed this season, Kyle Busch is ranked fifteenth in the driver standings, having secured one top-five finish, five top-10s, and racked up 322 points. His next opportunity to break his winless stretch is coming up at the Viva Mexico 250 on Sunday, June 15, at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City. This upcoming race is especially notable, as it marks the first time in 67 years that the Cup Series will hold a points-paying race outside of the United States.
Fans looking to follow the action can watch live coverage starting at 3 p.m. Eastern Time on Prime Video, or tune in on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Richard Childress Racing Backs Busch for the Future
Despite questions from fans about whether Richard Childress Racing might part ways with Busch after a challenging period, it has been made clear that he will continue with the team through the end of 2026. The announcement, which took place during a visit to Charlotte Motor Speedway last month, was confirmed by team president Mike Verlander.
The extension brought clear enthusiasm from Busch, who expressed his gratitude for the continued support:
“I give a lot of credit to Richard (Childress) and him believing in me and giving me the opportunity to be able to come over here and have a chance to drive his car. So for me, rewarding him with that and having the success on the racetrack is paramount.”
—Kyle Busch, driver
Since joining Richard Childress Racing, Busch has notched up three Cup Series wins, sixteen top-five results, and thirty-one top-10s, confirming his ongoing value to the team. Ranking ninth on the all-time wins list and still leading among active drivers, his presence remains significant for both the team and NASCAR at large.
This contract extension through 2026 is expected to provide stability as the team works to return to victory lane and aim for championship contention. With new opportunities ahead, including the historic Mexico City race, both Busch and Richard Childress Racing look set to tackle future challenges together.
