Kyle Busch sets RCR ‘win-or-stay’ bar, targets Coca-Cola 600 as 2026 litmus test
Kyle Busch is entering his 22nd full-time Cup season with a clear message: victories will determine whether he remains with his current team beyond 2026. Winless since June 2023 and coming off consecutive seasons without a playoff berth, the two-time champion outlined a pragmatic plan for judging progress and shrugged off uncertainty about his 2027 ride.
A contract year framed by results
Busch, 40, is not guaranteed to return to his current seat after this season. He made it plain that the path to any extension runs through victory lane. “You’ve got to get back to victory lane. It’s all about winning races, it’s all about being able to capitalize on those days, and having a good team around you. You win from top to bottom, so looking forward to seeing what [crew chief Jim Pohlman] has for us and what we can do with that,” Busch said.
Busch’s first year with the organization in 2023 opened with promise — three wins in the first 15 races — but the momentum stalled. He has not won since June 2023 and has missed the postseason in back-to-back campaigns, a stark contrast to the standard he set earlier in his career.
Coke 600 pegged as progress checkpoint
While early outings can hint at direction, Busch cautioned against overreacting to the first few races. He singled out the Coca-Cola 600 in May as the moment the pecking order typically comes into focus. “I’ve always kinda said once you get to the Coke 600, that’s sorta where you’ll fall in the season and where your points are and where you kinda stack up. You can go about one or two places higher or lower than where you’re at currently. I would say that would be a good time to start judging,” he said.
That timeline underscores Busch’s emphasis on organizational cohesion around Pohlman and the No. 8 team. Sustained pace, clean execution on pit road, and race-to-race gains will matter more than a single early breakthrough as he evaluates the year — and, by extension, his future place in the lineup.
Calm about 2027: “You can’t worry about things you can’t control”
Despite entering a pivotal season, Busch sounded unfazed about what comes next. “I don’t really worry. It kinda is what it is. I’ve always told Samantha [Busch] the same thing. You can’t worry about things you can’t control. All you can do is go out there and do what you can do and the good Lord will take care of the rest. If I’m here in the future, great,” he said.
It’s not the first time he has faced an uncertain horizon. After 15 seasons with his previous organization from 2008 to 2022 — a tenure that produced 56 wins and championships in 2015 and 2019 — Busch made a high-profile move ahead of 2023. Now, the calculus is familiar: pair veteran savvy with tangible results to dictate the next chapter.
Daytona quest and the bigger picture
Busch is slated for his 21st start in the Daytona 500 on Feb. 15 (ET), still chasing a crown jewel that has eluded him. His best finish in “The Great American Race” is second, set in 2019. While a Daytona breakthrough would immediately reset narratives, Busch’s broader barometer points to consistency through the spring and into May.
Big-picture credentials remain unimpeachable: 63 career Cup wins and two titles. What’s missing is recent momentum. Reclaiming that rhythm — by capitalizing on speed when it’s there and minimizing self-inflicted setbacks — is central to his 2026 mission.
What it will take to keep Busch
Busch’s stance is both blunt and familiar to any contender: a team worthy of staying with is one that wins. That means cars capable of controlling restarts, cycling to the lead through pit sequences, and closing races under pressure. He believes the organization has the pieces and that the months leading to the Coca-Cola 600 will reveal how well those pieces fit.
If the wins return, the rest — contract talks, long-term vision, and the question of where he lands in 2027 — should fall into place. If not, Busch has signaled he won’t be tethered by worry. The next several months, then, are set to define both the season and his future.
