Kyle Busch’s bold move at Talladega Superspeedway ended in disappointment on Sunday, dashing his hopes for a turnaround as the NASCAR season enters its final stages. The Kyle Busch Talladega gamble, which saw him risk a top-line run on the last lap, failed to deliver the result he needed, pushing the Richard Childress Racing driver to look ahead to the season’s remaining two races.
Busch has not celebrated a win since 2023, and his fortunes did not improve in 2025. Despite giving his best effort, he was unable to reach the winner’s circle, secure a playoff spot, or contend for a championship. With his regular season championship hopes already dashed, Busch tried to salvage a strong finish at Talladega.
“We had a fast No. 8 Chevrolet today at Talladega Superspeedway. We qualified up front, the car drove great, and we led laps. I gambled on the top line at the end and it didn’t pay off. We still have two races left in 2025 to get our Richard Childress Racing machine back to victory lane and that remains the focus.”
— Kyle Busch, Driver.
Disappointments and Missed Opportunities at Talladega
Kyle Busch started Sunday’s race in a strong position, having qualified third after a solid performance on Saturday. However, the opening stage quickly took a turn for the worse as he slipped to twentieth, losing his early momentum. Although Stage 2 saw some improvement—he climbed back to thirteenth—Busch ultimately crossed the finish line in nineteenth, reflecting a day of persistent challenges.
While Busch struggled to make an impact, Chase Briscoe of Joe Gibbs Racing seized the win at Talladega and punched his ticket to the Championship 4. Briscoe will be joined by fellow JGR driver Denny Hamlin in the title showdown. With just two slots left to be decided, the tensions will run high at Martinsville, where the final playoff race determines the rest of the field for the decisive Championship 4.
Kyle Busch Praises Jim Pohlman’s Leadership Ahead of RCR Role
Looking to the future, Busch expressed his confidence in Jim Pohlman’s abilities as he gets set to join Richard Childress Racing as crew chief next year. Busch views Pohlman’s track record and leadership as assets that can help drive the team forward.
“I feel like a guy like that who has been able to jump into a system that’s been somewhat successful and improve it and to get results out of it and to almost win two championships already — going for a third — that led to some really good leadership traits for me and improvement of organization,”
Kyle Busch told the media.
Pohlman is preparing to leave JR Motorsports for his new position at RCR, bringing with him significant experience. In 2023, he departed from RCR for JRM, where he guided Justin Allgaier to the 2024 Xfinity Series championship. Under his leadership, the JRM team has secured spots in the Championship 4 in back-to-back years, further reinforcing Pohlman’s reputation in the NASCAR community and supporting Busch’s optimism for the upcoming partnership.
What Lies Ahead for Busch and RCR
With the season winding down, Kyle Busch has two more opportunities to bring his Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet back to victory lane. The upcoming races offer a chance for redemption and a strong finish to an otherwise challenging campaign, and Busch’s focus remains steadfast on that goal. The addition of Jim Pohlman to the team promises renewed momentum for RCR, as Busch targets improvement and future championship contention with Pohlman’s guidance.
As the NASCAR playoffs reach their climax at Martinsville and the anticipation builds for the final Championship 4 showdown, fans will be watching closely to see if Busch and RCR can capitalize on these remaining opportunities and set the tone for a resurgence in the next season.
