Kyle Busch, a two-time champion in the NASCAR Cup Series, is set to face a major shift in 2026, as current crew chief Randall Burnett prepares to depart. The transition takes place while Busch and Richard Childress Racing (RCR) navigate a notably difficult season, intensifying speculation about the future of their partnership and the direction of the team.
Burnett will move to Trackhouse Racing in 2026, joining the No. 99 team to collaborate with rookie driver Connor Zilisch. This new pairing will take over from Matt Swiderski and Daniel Suarez once the current season concludes. Details surrounding the next roles for Swiderski and Suarez remain unclear, fueling ongoing discussion about possible opportunities with Spire Motorsports and even a reunion between Busch and Swiderski at RCR. However, nothing has been officially announced. The news comes as the wider NASCAR community closely follows changes that could alter the competitive landscape.
Kyle Busch’s Performance in 2025: A Pivotal Struggle
The 2025 NASCAR season marks one of the most challenging points in Busch’s career since his debut in 2005. For only the second consecutive time, Busch enters the end of the season without a win and misses the Cup Series playoffs, a stark contrast to earlier accomplishments. After 30 out of 36 races, Busch has managed to lead a modest 62 laps—most notably, 42 of those during the Circuit of the Americas race in March. That event remains the only non-superspeedway competition where he maintained a top-10 average running position and seized the lead through pure racing rather than pit strategy.
In comparison to the previous year, Busch’s record has dipped: he has collected just two top-five and eight top-10 finishes, versus five and ten at the same stage last season. The downturn in performance is not limited to Busch alone, with RCR overall struggling despite teammate Austin Dillon making the playoffs. Richard Childress, reflecting on challenges at Dover Motor Speedway, openly noted, we need better cars, following a particularly tough race there.
Still, Busch is confirmed to continue with RCR for the 2026 season, marking his 22nd year as a full-time Cup Series driver. He is also approaching significant milestones: the season finale will be his 750th Cup Series start, placing him 14th in the all-time rankings. Should he participate in every race next year, his tally would reach 786, inching past Michael Waltrip. Continuing full-time into 2027 could push him even higher, surpassing the likes of Jeff Gordon and Darrell Waltrip on the list of career starts.
Questions Surround How Long Busch Will Remain in NASCAR Cup Series
Kyle Busch’s future in the Cup Series is intertwined with his son, Brexton Busch’s progression through the racing ranks. Busch has suggested he plans to compete in Cup until Brexton nears the eligible age to enter the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. According to NASCAR regulations, a driver must be 16 to compete part-time in trucks at short ovals and road courses, and 18 to drive full-time. Brexton, who just turned 10, is actively gaining experience on various surfaces and even shares the track with his father on occasion. He could take his first shot at Truck racing in 2031, with the potential to move into a full-time seat three years later.
If Busch aims to chase a Truck Series championship before partnering with Brexton as teammates, he would likely target a bid in 2028 or 2029. That window factors in both his performance trends and his desire to forge history. Busch holds two national series championships in Cup and Xfinity, and a Truck title would make him the first ever to complete the triumvirate. Regardless of what comes next, he is regarded as a future first-ballot NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee, and his role as a spokesperson for the sport is set to endure, regardless of whether he achieves this last milestone.
What These Developments Mean for Busch and NASCAR
The shifts within the Kyle Busch NASCAR Cup Series journey—ranging from a challenging season, burning questions about future team lineups, and his legacy ambitions—highlight an era of transition for both Busch and his team. The 2025 season’s disappointments underscore the competitive pressures within NASCAR and the high expectations placed on champions like Busch. As teams initiate key personnel changes, eyes remain on how these moves might reshape the competitive hierarchy.
Looking ahead, Busch’s possible pursuit of history and his nearing of major career benchmarks reinforce his significance in the sport. His evolving relationship with NASCAR, RCR, and his own racing family ensures that his actions will remain a focal point for fans and analysts in seasons to come.
