Kyle Busch’s struggles in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series have reached a new low, as the driver faces the prospect of his worst season just after hopes of recovery from a dismal 2024. With the Phoenix race concluding the calendar, the focus keyword Kyle Busch 2025 Cup Season takes center stage as both Busch and his team grapple with a year marked by frustration and anticipation for the changes ahead.
As the curtain falls on the Cup Series, Busch, driving for Richard Childress Racing, looks forward to the end of a turbulent journey, his attention already drifting toward the 2026 season and the arrival of new crew chief Jim Pohlmann. The weight of back-to-back challenging years leaves Busch eager for a reset and hopeful that renewed leadership might reverse his fortunes.
Preparing for a Critical Offseason and Major Team Changes
After enduring 35 grueling races, Kyle Busch, aged 40, feels relief as the 2025 season finale approaches in Phoenix. Unlike contenders focused on championship glory, Busch is simply glad the year is ending, seeking solace in the prospect of a winter break and a fresh start. During his media appearance at Phoenix, he openly discussed how his offseason will differ from years past due to the appointment of Jim Pohlmann as his new crew chief next year.
“I think this offseason will be different just based on trying to build some camaraderie and some time with Jim,”
Busch explained, alluding to his hopes of developing better communication and unity within his team. – Kyle Busch, Driver
“Being able to spend some time with him and just kind of figure things out. What makes him tick, and obviously what makes me tick, and sort of getting on the same page to start our season,”
continued the two-time Cup Series champion. – Kyle Busch, Driver
“You know, those are always the best ways of being the most successful with a crew chief is when you know when each other’s thinking, what they’re thinking, and you can sort of anticipate what’s next,”
Busch added, pointing to the importance of seamless collaboration for on-track success. – Kyle Busch, Driver
Reflecting on the past, Busch noted that earlier eras featured longer practice sessions that helped drivers and crew chiefs build rapport. Now, with limited track time, forging this critical understanding must occur outside the competitive environment, adding an extra layer of challenge to his transition with Pohlmann.
Pohlmann arrives at Richard Childress Racing from JR Motorsports, where he collaborated with Xfinity Series champion Justin Allgaier. Having recently replaced Randall Burnett as crew chief, Pohlmann brings a reputation for competitiveness and a record of championship success, injecting hope but also an admission that the road ahead will not be easy for Busch and his team.
How This Season Threatens to Become Busch’s Career Low
With only the Phoenix finale remaining, Kyle Busch has achieved just nine top-10 finishes during this year’s Cup campaign – one fewer than any previous season of his storied career. Should he fall short of a top-10 performance in the closing race, 2025 will officially mark his lowest point, statistically and symbolically, in Cup competition.
The pit reflects on the harsh statistics: the fewest top-10 finishes Busch has previously recorded stands at 10, set during the challenging 2024 run. In 2025, he sits 22nd in the overall points standings, a dramatic decline for a driver of his caliber. Despite the grim numbers, there is growing optimism with Pohlmann’s signing, suggesting a possible reversal of fortune next year.
“Jim Pohlman is a relentless competitor in the garage and fits in well with our mission and approach at RCR. He was well-respected during his previous tenure in Welcome, and we know that he will do a great job leading the No. 8 team and Kyle Busch,”
commented Richard Childress, further emphasizing expectations placed on the experienced new leader. – Richard Childress, Team Owner
Kelly Crandall raised a notable point for this crucial weekend: Busch has never completed a Cup season with only a single-digit tally of top-10s, but that ignominious milestone looms if his performance doesn’t improve at Phoenix. The pressure, coupled with years of dwindling results, further intensifies the desire for change in both Busch’s career and at Richard Childress Racing.
Fans and team members alike hope “Rowdy,” as Busch is affectionately known, will return to the front ranks following these difficult campaigns. The transition to working under Jim Pohlmann, and the hard lessons of consecutive tough seasons, may serve as the catalyst needed for one of NASCAR’s most recognized figures to reclaim his former competitive edge in 2026.
The statistical nugget to watch this weekend: Kyle Busch has never finished a Cup Series season with a single-digit number of top 10 finishes. That could happen this year if he does not earn one Sunday. Busch has nine top-10 finishes.
The fewest he's ever had in a season? 10…
— Kelly Crandall (@KellyCrandall) October 30, 2025
