The two-time Cup Series champion will make his 21st attempt at winning the Daytona 500 this weekend, and his confidence should be high after winning the pole. But there’s more riding on this race, and this season, it is more than just claiming the one trophy that’s eluded him throughout his Hall of Fame career.
Kyle Busch Eyes Revival as Contract Year Raises Expectations
The 40-year-old is staring down a 92-race winless streak. His last trip to victory lane at NASCAR’s top level came at Gateway in June 2023. For a driver who built his reputation on winning, going nearly two full seasons without a checkered flag is unfamiliar territory.
The pressure is mounting. Busch is in the final year of his contract with Richard Childress Racing, and last season’s struggles, a disappointing 21st-place finish in the championship standings, have put his future in question.
While few observers blame Busch entirely for the No. 8 team’s performance, it’s worth noting that teammate Austin Dillon managed to win twice at Richmond during that same stretch.
Enter Jim Pohlman, Busch’s new crew chief and perhaps his best chance at turning things around. Pohlman comes to the Cup Series fresh off winning the 2024 Xfinity Series championship with Justin Allgaier at JR Motorsports, where he collected nine wins.
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But his connection to RCR runs deeper: he previously worked as a shop hand there, giving him intimate knowledge of the organization.
“Working with Jim has been good,” Busch said Wednesday during Daytona 500 Media Day. “He’s a very determined guy and wants to be a difference maker here at RCR and the 8 car and having a chance to reach victory lane every week.”
According to Busch, Pohlman stood out from other candidates during the interview process for one simple reason: he wanted it more.
“There were some really good candidates to review,” Busch explained. “None came with as much passion and love for Richard Childress Racing and wanting to turn the 8 car around as Jim Pohlman did. He just had that sense of determination that the others couldn’t match.”
The duo got their first race together out of the way at the Cook Out Clash, finishing P19 in an event complicated by wet conditions and sleet. Pohlman told reporters they showed promise on rain tires before getting caught up in a wreck that broke a tie rod.
When asked about his contract situation and the importance of winning the Daytona 500, the last major box he has yet to check in his legendary career, Busch kept his answers straightforward and focused.
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“We’re in a performance-based industry,” Busch said. “We have to go out there and perform and reach victory lane. That’s not just a yearly thing. It’s a weekly thing.”
He continued: “Yeah, winning the Daytona 500 is really the last box I have to check in my career and winning that would be really big. It would be a really big celebration for sure. You want to win that race but we want to win a lot of races. Again, we’re in a performance-based business and we haven’t won in a couple of years and we need to put that behind us.”
It’s a refreshingly honest assessment from a driver who knows the stakes. No excuses, no deflection, just the reality that results matter in NASCAR, and his recent results haven’t been good enough. Whether Pohlman can be the difference-maker Busch needs remains to be seen.
