Kyle Busch is determined to end his long losing streak in NASCAR’s top series, setting bold Kyle Busch 2026 win plans as he teams up with a new crew chief for the upcoming season. After 93 races without a win since his last triumph at Worldwide Technology Raceway in 2023, Busch’s partnership with veteran chief Jim Pohlman at Richard Childress Racing is raising hopes among fans and insiders that a turnaround is finally in sight.
Fresh Team Dynamics Spark Hope for Kyle Busch’s Comeback
The 2025 NASCAR season proved to be another trying year for Kyle Busch—a driver known for his relentless competitiveness and a career total of 63 Cup Series victories. Despite his formidable experience, the year brought only flashes of potential, including top-five finishes at COTA and Chicago and 88 laps led. For Busch, recognized by many as “Rowdy,” this winless run intensified the drive for change at Richard Childress Racing.
The biggest off-season shift comes with the arrival of Jim Pohlman as Busch’s new crew chief. Pohlman’s reputation is built on leading Justin Allgaier to an Xfinity Series championship in 2024 and his extensive engineering and R&D background, especially with Next-Gen NASCAR technology. He joined Richard Childress Racing after pivotal years at Chip Ganassi Racing and JR Motorsports, bringing an analytic and hands-on style to the No. 8 car team.
Quickly outlining his vision for the team’s resurgence, Jim Pohlman explained,
“We’ve got to get competitive on a weekly basis and then win races. Then you can talk about championships and stuff like that. My main focus is to bring some consistency right out of the gate. Let’s try and make sure we know where we’re going to be, where the car needs to be, and try to bring some good race cars to the racetrack early on. If you get that mentality going, I think in the long haul the rest will start to take care of itself.”
– Jim Pohlman, Crew Chief
Pohlman’s extensive experience with the Next-Gen car, honed during exhaustive R&D work at Chip Ganassi Racing, is considered a significant asset as NASCAR evolves its engineering demands. After spending over a decade in those demanding roles, Pohlman transitioned to lead the Xfinity program before returning to the highest level with Richard Childress Racing. Pohlman’s ethos is clear—focus on steady improvement and trust that consistency will lead to winning results.
Reflecting on the pairing with Busch, Pohlman commented,
“We’re probably a lot alike. I haven’t seen his analytical chart as to how his personality is, but having done the crew chief role and reading people, I’d say we’re probably identical. There might be some spats, I’m not going to lie. He’s passionate. I’m passionate. The end goal is that he wants to win races, and he wants to win races at RCR, and he was crystal clear about that. I think I’m most excited about having a future Hall of Fame driver.”
– Jim Pohlman, Crew Chief
For his part, Busch is eager to capitalize on this new leadership and believes the change at the pit box is critical to revitalizing the No. 8 team’s fortunes. Busch highlighted,
“Well, we just got to keep working on building everything, and you know, getting Jim Pohlman announced as our crew chief for next year, hopefully, that will help things and get us trending, continuing to trend in the right direction.”
– Kyle Busch, Driver
The offseason is seen as a crucial period for Kyle Busch and Jim Pohlman to establish clear communication and mutual understanding, especially with reduced time for on-track practice in the modern NASCAR calendar. Both driver and crew chief are recognized for their intensity and meticulous approach, fostering optimism that their combined expertise could break the winless drought that has frustrated Busch’s fanbase.
Legal Woes Add Pressure During NASCAR Offseason
While intense driver-crew chief dynamics are making headlines, the Busch family faces significant challenges off the track. Kyle and Samantha Busch have initiated legal action against Pacific Life Insurance Company after discovering major discrepancies in a life insurance retirement plan. Despite believing their five-year life insurance arrangement would secure their future, the couple received a sixth unexpected premium notice raising suspicions. Their independent inquiry revealed their supposed tax-free retirement asset was set to lapse within 16 months, erasing their $10.4 million contribution.
As a result, the Busches are suing Pacific Life for $8.5 million, accusing the insurer of misrepresenting the product’s risks and providing false promises about the policy’s safety. Their legal team is seeking to identify any other consumers who experienced similar setbacks. Busch voiced his frustration, stating,
“These insurance companies are too big to be (messing) with the little people, so we’re going to go at them,”
– Kyle Busch, Driver and
“It’s not just race car drivers or athletes or rich people of the world, and this is why we’re going public with it.”
– Kyle Busch, Driver
Complicating matters further, the lawsuit against Pacific Life Insurance Company has been assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Kenneth Bell. Judge Bell is already overseeing a prominent antitrust case in motorsports: 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports’ legal battle with NASCAR. As he now manages both high-profile legal entanglements simultaneously, the motorsports community is watching closely, especially with the NASCAR antitrust trial scheduled for December and NBA legend Michael Jordan slated to testify.
The Path Forward: Will Experience and New Energy End the Drought?
Kyle Busch’s winless run has cast a long shadow, but the introduction of Jim Pohlman brings optimism not just for the No. 8 team but for NASCAR as a whole. Pohlman’s prior record of engineering innovation and championship leadership, especially with a future Hall of Fame driver like Busch, positions Richard Childress Racing for a resurgence. The emotionally charged environment around Busch, amplified by off-track legal disputes, raises the stakes and intensity for the coming season.
As the NASCAR world monitors both the evolving partnership and the legal drama, the focus remains on whether these Kyle Busch 2026 win plans will be the formula that finally restores a once-dominant driver’s place at the top. With a new crew chief at the controls and a heightened sense of purpose, Busch and Pohlman’s efforts could define the next chapter for one of the sport’s most scrutinized teams.
Crew chief Jim Pohlman has achieved a lot during his long NASCAR career. The next box to tick? Turning around the fortunes of Kyle Busch's No.8 team at Richard Childress Racing. https://t.co/G7L2BCz5Q1
— RACER (@RACERHQ) November 27, 2025
