Kyle Busch’s ongoing 2025 struggles on the NASCAR circuit have not gone unnoticed, with AJ Allmendinger, a fellow driver and collaborator at Kaulig Racing, offering his own perspective on the situation this week. The two, while not official teammates, have worked in close proximity thanks to Kaulig Racing’s partnership with Richard Childress Racing (RCR) and their shared facilities in Welcome, North Carolina.
Collaboration Between Kaulig Racing and RCR Sheds Light on Performance Issues
Throughout the current season, teams using ECR engines, including RCR, Kaulig, and Trackhouse Racing, have faced significant challenges with speed and consistency, sparking concerns among drivers like Kyle Busch, AJ Allmendinger, and Ross Chastain. These performance issues have become a talking point in the paddock, with Busch’s No. 8 team drawing particular scrutiny.
When Allmendinger appeared on the Door Bumper Clear podcast, he was pressed about the underlying causes of the No. 8 team’s difficulties. Drawing from Kaulig’s insider position at RCR, he provided candid comments:
“I can’t explain on their side of it. … I don’t know, I don’t have a perfect answer for it,”
AJ Allmendinger, Driver
Allmendinger acknowledged their close working relationship this year and offered his assessment of the technical obstacles facing Busch:
“We’ve worked very close this year. You know, I will say, and I don’t want to speak on Kyle’s behalf, but he definitely – they have a lack of feel in the racecar right now. Because Kyle is one of the best we’ve ever seen, he always will be, and it’s not like he just woke up one day and forgot, ah, I can’t drive anymore, right? Compared to what he used to,”
AJ Allmendinger, Driver
According to Allmendinger, a lack of “feel” in the racecar is a core issue, with RCR, Kaulig, and even the successful Trackhouse Racing all striving to find more speed across their vehicles. He elaborated on the level of competition within the Chevrolet teams and the shift in RCR’s engineering staff:
“They’re just lacking feel, and you know, at times, we’re just generally trying to find more speed. Just as a group. You know, if you base us off of Trackhouse at times, and then obviously, Hendrick Motorsports, which is, you know, that’s the pinnacle on the Chevy team and always will be. So, you know, they’re definitely, we’re all in search mode a little bit, but I think on their group, and obviously, there’s turnover now, with Randall leaving,”
AJ Allmendinger, Driver
Understanding the Shared Struggles Within the Chevy Camp
Allmendinger’s empathy is rooted in similar challenges he and his own Kaulig Racing team have faced—challenges that appear to be universal among teams operating in the ECR engine ecosystem over recent seasons. He reflected on the psychological toll such struggles can take, describing a pattern familiar to seasoned drivers:
“I fight this all the time, we all fight this, in life, I think,”
AJ Allmendinger, Driver
“You start struggling, you lack confidence, and then you don’t start trusting yourself. It’s difficult,”
AJ Allmendinger, Driver
While the issues within Kyle Busch’s camp seem to stem heavily from technical and setup areas, the competitive landscape complicates matters. Trackhouse Racing has managed race victories this season, and at certain tracks, Kaulig Racing has outperformed RCR. This dispels any notion that the struggles are isolated solely to RCR or an individual driver such as Busch.
Staff Changes and Future Direction for Kyle Busch’s Team
Heading into key races, the No. 8 team is undergoing important leadership changes. Andy Street is set to serve as crew chief at the Charlotte Roval race, while Randall Burnett, a crucial figure within RCR’s engineering base, will finish the season with the organization before departing for Trackhouse Racing, where he will work with rookie Connor Zilisch. This transition represents another variable in the ongoing effort to resolve the technical frustrations and restore the team’s competitiveness.
Kyle Busch’s 2025 struggles continue to draw notice within the NASCAR community, and AJ Allmendinger’s insights point to both organization-wide technical challenges and the mental weight these struggles impose on even the most accomplished drivers. As RCR adapts to personnel changes and all ECR engine teams hunt for improved speed, the spotlight remains fixed on whether Busch’s group can find solutions and recover their past form in the coming seasons.
