Kyle Busch‘s Next-Gen car struggles have dominated headlines after another winless regular season and failing to make the NASCAR playoffs, sparking debate about the impact of new vehicle regulations. Kevin Harvick, former NASCAR champion, has pointed to the Next-Gen era as the crucial factor behind Busch’s sudden downturn, raising questions across the motorsport community.
Continuous Winless Streak and Playoff Absence Trouble Kyle Busch
For the second consecutive year, Kyle Busch of Richard Childress Racing has completed the regular NASCAR season without a victory and missed out on the playoffs. This ongoing winless drought has extended since mid-2023, contrasting sharply with the small flashes of competitiveness he has occasionally shown. The drastic change in Busch’s performance has been both surprising and concerning, especially as his teammate Austin Dillon has secured race wins in 2024 and 2025 and succeeded in making the playoffs.
Kevin Harvick Pinpoints Gen-7 Cars as the Turning Point
On the recent episode of the Happy Hour podcast, Kevin Harvick offered an in-depth analysis of the main reason behind Kyle Busch’s persistent struggles. Harvick argued that the introduction of the Gen-7, also known as Next-Gen, cars fundamentally altered the NASCAR racing landscape. According to Harvick’s observations, these changes have neutralized the key attributes that previously set Busch apart as a champion, such as his capability to push vehicles to their limits and precisely communicate technical feedback.
I think this car has totally disrupted everything that has made Kyle Busch good. Everything that made Kyle Busch good up until this Gen-7 car was the fact that he could drive it over the limit, save the car and he could tell you every single thing that you needed to put in the car to make it go fast. He knew the springs, he knew the shocks — he knew everything that was going on…
Kevin Harvick said via Happy Hour podcast.
Harvick stressed that with the new car’s unique dynamics, drivers are no longer able to tailor cars to their individual styles or leverage deep mechanical knowledge. Instead, the standardization of the Next-Gen kit leaves less room for drivers like Busch, who excelled in customizing setups and improvising during races, to stand out. This shift has resulted in more incidents for Busch’s No. 8 Chevy, including frequent wrecks and unforced team errors that harm their competitive prospects.
It’s a way different dynamic of what it takes to make this car go fast. You’re not building cars that are specifically built to your driving style and from an aero balance standpoint. You’ve got what you got. Every time that this 8 car is in position, it’s a spinout, a wreck, or something on pit road, or something happens that’s going on and just can’t finish the deal.
Kevin Harvick asserted.
While Harvick recognizes top drivers such as HMS’ Kyle Larson continue to thrive by adapting quickly, Busch’s ongoing issues highlight how not all veterans have managed the transition. The Next-Gen environment punishes even small lapses in adaptation, which has magnified Busch’s challenges and led to his current skid.
Impacts Stretch Beyond the Driver to Team and Sport
The effects of Kyle Busch’s struggle extend far beyond his own record, as senior NASCAR journalist Jeff Gluck outlined during an episode of The Teardown podcast. Gluck stressed how Busch’s difficulties damage not only his team at Richard Childress Racing (RCR) but also harm NASCAR as a whole by reducing the sport’s excitement and relevance.
Kyle Busch is better. The sport is better when Kyle Busch is better. Especially driving for RCR. Yeah. Like if Kyle Busch was winning races and contending, he makes RCR more relevant. People love RCR. They’ve kind of got this rough-and-tumble image. Now for the first time in Bush’s career, by the way, has gone two straight years of failing to make the playoffs, which is just absolutely mind-blowing
Jeff Gluck said.
Busch’s unique presence as a polarizing figure—with both devoted fans and detractors—draws attention far beyond his team. His inability to compete at the front directly impacts the visibility and legacy of RCR, a team known for its blue-collar, hard-nosed reputation. The last two seasons without playoffs marks a first in Busch’s extensive career, signaling how wide-reaching the consequences of the Next-Gen change have become.
The intensity of reaction from insiders like Gluck and Harvick reveals the conflicted mood across the NASCAR community. While some veterans have adapted or even flourished with the new cars, the evident mismatch between Busch and the current technical landscape is a constant topic on podcasts and within racing circles. Meanwhile, drivers like Joey Logano have thrived in this era, winning championship titles and highlighting the divergence wrought by the Gen-7 switch.
The Uncertain Path Forward for Kyle Busch and RCR
The ongoing debate over Kyle Busch’s Next-Gen car struggles reflects larger tensions about NASCAR’s evolution and how changes can upend legacies in the sport. Attention continues to focus on whether Busch, with his deep racing expertise and driven personality, can eventually adapt to these sweeping technical shifts. Upcoming seasons will be pivotal as both Busch and Richard Childress Racing seek answers and work to break the winless drought that now defines one of the most closely watched storylines on the NASCAR circuit.
The unfolding story will have implications for fans, teams, and NASCAR’s own popularity, as the sport grapples with maintaining its traditions while embracing innovation. For now, Busch’s performance remains a central issue, with the hope among many that the veteran will eventually rediscover his edge—and that RCR will reclaim its position of relevance at the top level of American stock car racing.
