When Tony Stewart pulled the plug on Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) at the end of 2024, it sent shockwaves through the NASCAR world. But amid the chaos, Richard Childress Racing (RCR) saw an opportunity—one that Kyle Busch hopes will turn around his fortunes after a winless season.
With top-tier engineers, crew chiefs, and technical staff suddenly up for grabs, RCR pounced, bringing in some of the brightest minds from SHR. Now, Busch believes these fresh hires could be the missing piece to getting back to Victory Lane—and perhaps finally winning the Daytona 500, the one trophy that has eluded him for two decades.
A Brutal 2024 for Busch—Can RCR’s Revamp Fix the Issues?
Let’s not sugarcoat it—2024 was a disaster for Kyle Busch.
For the first time in his storied career, the two-time Cup Series champion failed to win a single race. That’s an unacceptable stat for a driver with 63 career victories—and he knows it.
“We went to Miami and struggled, ran in the 20s all day,” Busch admitted. “Then we go to Phoenix and struggle there too. There are places where we still need to really work on our program and be better.”
The issues weren’t just raw speed. While the No. 8 Chevrolet had flashes of brilliance at tracks like Daytona, Darlington, and Atlanta, pit road mistakes repeatedly sabotaged strong runs.
Case in point: The 2024 Daytona 500.
- Busch led 12 laps and looked poised to contend.
- One mistake on pit road derailed everything.
- He limped home 12th, furious at the missed opportunity.
Even team owner Richard Childress couldn’t hide his frustration, going full fire-and-brimstone mode over the radio:
“Crew guys, get your head out of your a— and stop f—— up.”
That moment set the tone for a year plagued by unforced errors—which is exactly why RCR made drastic changes heading into 2025.
RCR Raids SHR’s Talent Pool—Can It Get Busch Back to Victory Lane?
Knowing they couldn’t afford another season of mediocrity, RCR went all-in on hiring SHR’s top talent.
- Richard Boswell takes over as crew chief for Austin Dillon’s No. 3 team.
- John Klausmeier, a proven SHR veteran, steps in as RCR’s new technical director.
“I’m thrilled to join Richard Childress Racing,” Klausmeier said. “With such a rich history in the sport, I’m excited to contribute to their groundwork for success.”
Busch believes these moves are exactly what RCR needed.
“I feel like hopefully the hires we made over the offseason with some of the people from SHR are going to help us progress and get us where we want to be each and every week,” he said.
But fixing pit road performance is just as important as raw speed.
“Pit road is a big deal too,” Busch added. “You’ve got to come down pit road and pick off spots. You can’t go backwards.”
Translation? No more self-inflicted wounds.
Can RCR’s Overhaul Finally Deliver Busch His First Daytona 500?
One trophy still glares from Busch’s empty shelf—the Daytona 500.
- He’s won at Daytona in July—but never in February.
- He’s led hundreds of laps, only to see bad luck or strategy missteps cost him.
- 2024’s mistake was just the latest heartbreak.
With SHR’s talent now fueling RCR’s rebuild, could 2025 finally be the year Busch breaks through?
One thing’s certain—he won’t accept another year of disappointment.
With a revamped team, new energy, and the hunger to win again, Kyle Busch is ready to prove that Rowdy isn’t finished yet.
The road to redemption begins at Daytona.