‘We’ve got to put the train back on the tracks’ - Busch

Kyle Busch addressed the Richard Childress Racing shop this week and reiterated his commitment to righting the ship as his team begins working with a new crew chief.

“I thanked Jim [Pohlman] for his leadership and for being there and being a part of our team, and for what he did for the time,” Busch told reporters about his message while on pit road at Texas Motor Speedway after finishing second in the Craftsman Truck Series race. “I’m full in. I’m all committed. I’ve never probably worked as much in these last four years as I did in 15 at (Joe Gibbs Racing), but that’s due to us needing to be better and getting things headed in the right direction.

“So, we’ve got to put the train back on the tracks and have a direction on what we need to do in order to go forward.”

Busch and the No. 8 team are 27th in the NASCAR Cup Series standings. Pohlman – who joined the company from JR Motorsports after success in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series – and Busch worked together for 10 races. The only top-10 finish they earned came in their last race at Talladega Superspeedway.

Austin Dillon is three spots ahead of Busch in the point standings. However, Busch feels Dillon’s team has done a good job of making things work for them and that they are clicking on all cylinders. His team needs to carry their weight in the operation.

“So, (I was) just reiterating all of that,” Busch said, “and giving them the vote of confidence that we’re all in this together and we’re digging in.”

Although Busch enjoyed his association with Pohlman, things haven't bounced the No. 8's way. David Jensen/Getty Images

Pohlman was given his due by Busch, even if their working relationship didn’t work out. Busch said he enjoyed working with Pohlman, likes him and his passion, fire and leadership. But it seems that Richard Childress, Mike Verlander and other executives didn’t think Pohlman was in the right position.

The team’s position in the standings is proof that something needed to change. Busch is of the understanding that the conversation with Pohlman about the change was well-received.

“We did have some decent races with Andy Street,” Busch said. “Do we come to Texas and flip everything around and run top 10 right here, right now? I’m not sure about that, but we certainly have done all of our due diligence this week of trying to get prepared the best we know how.”

Street will lead Busch’s team beginning this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. A longtime member of Richard Childress Racing, the two also worked together for the final few races of the 2025 season after Childress took Randall Burnett off the box. The latter was done after it was announced Burnett would be leaving the company for Trackhouse Racing.

Street and Busch earned two top-10 finishes in five races together. The driver described him as someone who has perhaps a simpler mindset when it comes to his approach to racing, and how things need to make sense to him before he believes it. Street is not someone to just take what a computer says.

“So, I feel like that’s a good way of being back to basics and a little more methodical about race cars,” said Busch.

Busch disagreed with the idea that the crew chief change was a play by Childress to keep him in the fold. After the organization picked up his option for the 2026 season, Busch is a free agent looking at 2027.

“We’re in this together anyway,” Busch said. “I love Richard, and I feel like we’ve worked really well together. Austin has been a phenomenal teammate that I’ve been able to work with. I feel he’s probably one of the best that I’ve had, and so it’s been a joyful time of working with him.

“It’s just the results aren’t there, and we have to line that up and try to be better in order to get those.”