標籤: Buschs

Kyle Busch has been the subject of speculation over NASCAR’s silly season for months, with many wondering if the future Hall of Famer will stick with Richard Childress Racing. What seemed like a foregone conclusion is no longer the case.

NASCAR reporter Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic reported that it now appears “increasingly likely” that Busch will sign a new contract with RCR. The hope is that both parties will “stick together” and eventually sign a long-term agreement.

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Busch has now won 105 races without a Cup Series victory and is currently 24th in points, behind teammate Austin Dillon and slightly ahead of Erik Jones.

The issues resulted in RCR making another crew chief change for the No. 8 team with Jim Pohlman being replaced by Andy Street. It’s a move that appears to be paying off, with Busch finishing in the top-10 twice in the last three races, and would have made it three consecutive top-10s had he not gotten revenge against John Hunter Nemechek on the final lap at Texas.

Another reason Bush could re-sign with RCR. Hendrick, Joe Gibbs Racing, Team Penske and 23XI Racing don’t want him and clearly don’t see the 41-year-old as an upgrade from what they have. This potentially leaves a return to RCR as the best of Bush’s limited options.

RELATED: NASCAR All-Time Cup Series Winners, Including Kyle Busch

Who can replace Kyle Busch at RCR?

While Richard Childress Racing would obviously like to bring Busch back to the No. 8 car for the 2027 season, they have options. If he decides to leave or his contract demands become too high, there are two names to keep in mind as replacements.

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The most obvious RCR prospect is Jesse Love. In his age-21 season, Love is already a part-time driver for RCR in the No. 33 car and is poised to win the Xfinity Series this season.

Reigning Xfinity Series champion Love was previously looked at as an option for Legacy Motor Club in 2027 before their search focused on Riley Herbst. One reason for this could be the hope that Love is destined to occupy the number 8 car.

If RCR determines that Love is not quite ready for a full-time seat at the Cup Series level, the team could give Austin Hill a chance. He has proven to be far better racing in the lower levels than in the Cup, but he may be a short-term option until Love takes over.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

With Kyle Busch’s Cup Series win streak now reaching triple digits, his contract year is likely to end as he misses the win for the third consecutive season. With Richard Childress’s departure from Racing feeling inevitable, it appears the future Hall of Famer may discover in NASCAR’s silly season that he has no better options.

on the latest episode of teardownJordan Bianchi of The Athletic said that Busch will have to settle for the same situation he is in now as he will not have the opportunity to join one of NASCAR’s four best teams.

“Let’s say he decides to go somewhere else and you look at the landscape. He’s not going to a big team. He’s not going to Hendrick Motorsports, he’s not going to 23XI, he’s not going to go back to Joe Gibbs Racing. Like, what are his options? You start to look at where the landscape is and it’s going to be a similar situation where it’s a team where, yes, they have some potential and promise, but they also Is there something uncle?”

The Athletic’s Jordan Bianchi on Kyle Busch’s team options for next season

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Let’s start with 23XI Racing. Bubba Wallace, who is eighth in points, is already under contract for the 2027 season in the No. 23 car. Meanwhile, reporting has indicated that top prospect Corey Haim will replace Riley Herbst in the No. 35 car next season. As for Tyler Reddick, who has won five times in nine races this season, co-owner Denny Hamlin has made it clear that a contract extension is coming, even if it’s an expensive one.

As far as Joe Gibbs Racing is concerned, they are very pleased with the results delivered by Hamlin, Chase Briscoe, Christopher Bell and Ty Gibbs. While a plan will need to be made as to who drives the No. 11 car after Hamlin retires after the 2027 season, all signs point to it being Brent Cruz.

RELATED: Denny Hamlin gives clear message on Kyle Busch’s struggles

Busch won’t be moving to Team Penske, which has had its own issues of inconsistency this season, and Hendrick wants a long-term option for the No. 48 car if he’s going to replace Alex Bowman. Due to this the top four teams were out of the table.

Spire Motorsports seemed the most logical choice for Busch coming into the season. However, Carson Hocevar is the future face of the team, and Daniel Suarez is exceeding expectations for them by driving the No. 7 car this year.

RELATED: NASCAR Cup Series all-time win list, including Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin

It’s also worth noting that teammate Austin Dillon has outperformed Busch this season, and the No. 3 car is the only one to drive a win for RCR in the last few years. So, while he almost certainly won’t be behind the wheel of the No. 8 car in 2027, Busch could end up joining a team where the results will be exactly the same. If this happens, the conversation may focus on whether or not it is time for them to retire.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson