OFFICIAL: Kyle Busch will leave RCR after the season ends, NASCAR champion admits career slump sparks regret among fans
In a stunning turn of events that has sent shockwaves through the NASCAR community, two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch announced on September 20, 2025, that he will part ways with Richard Childress Racing (RCR) at the conclusion of the 2025 season. The 40-year-old Las Vegas native, known for his aggressive driving style and record-setting career, cited a prolonged winless drought and mounting frustrations with the team’s performance as key factors in his decision. “It’s been a tough ride these last three years,” Busch said in a somber press conference at Bristol Motor Speedway, just days after the Bass Pro Shops Night Race. “I’ve given everything to this team, but it’s clear we need a fresh start—for me and for them. The wins aren’t coming, and that’s on all of us.”
Busch’s departure marks the end of a high-profile partnership that began with optimism in 2023, when he left Joe Gibbs Racing after 15 dominant seasons to reunite with Chevrolet and join the storied RCR organization. At the time, the move was hailed as a potential dynasty revival, pairing Busch’s 63 Cup Series victories with RCR’s legacy of six championships, including the iconic era with Dale Earnhardt. Early promise materialized with three wins in Busch’s debut year, including triumphs at Talladega Superspeedway and World Wide Technology Raceway. Fans and analysts buzzed about Busch finally securing that elusive third title, one that had eluded him since his 2019 championship run.
However, the momentum fizzled dramatically. The 2024 season was a complete washout for the No. 8 Chevrolet team, with zero victories and Busch finishing 17th in the points standings—his worst full-time result since 2005. This year, 2025, has offered glimmers of hope amid the despair: four top-10 finishes in the first 12 races, including a strong fifth-place run at Circuit of the Americas where he led 42 laps. Yet, the drought persists, now stretching to 69 consecutive races without a checkered flag. Busch currently sits 14th in the standings, seven points shy of the playoff bubble, with his average finish hovering at a frustrating 18th. “I’ve adapted to the Next Gen car as well as anyone,” Busch admitted during the conference, his voice laced with rare vulnerability. “But when the setups don’t click, especially on short tracks, it’s like fighting with one hand tied behind your back. This slump… it’s wearing on me, on the crew, on everyone.”
The announcement comes on the heels of swirling rumors about internal discord at RCR, particularly surrounding crew chief Randall Burnett. Just 24 hours prior, insiders reported that Burnett, who has helmed the No. 8 team since Busch’s arrival, plans to exit after the season—potentially to a rival organization or retirement. The duo’s three-year tenure yielded those initial successes but has since been plagued by inconsistent car setups and engineering misfires. “Randall’s a good man, and we’ve built something together,” Busch said, acknowledging the split. “But change is necessary. I need a team that can give me the tools to compete at the front every week.” RCR owner Richard Childress, ever the stoic figurehead, expressed bittersweet sentiments in a team statement: “Kyle’s one of the greatest to ever turn a lap. We’ve shared highs and lows, and while we’re disappointed, we respect his choice. The door’s always open for a return someday.”
Fan reaction has been a torrent of regret and heartbreak, amplified across social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter). Longtime supporters, who once chanted “Rowdy” in admiration of Busch’s fearless overtakes, now lament what could have been. “Kyle deserved better than this endless slump at RCR,” tweeted NASCAR analyst @NASCARCentral, whose post garnered over 300 likes in hours. “Seeing a champ like him scrape for top-15s breaks my heart—regret all around for not fixing the issues sooner.” Others pointed to the emotional toll, with one viral thread from fan account @BubbaV239368 reading, “From 63 wins to 69 winless? This is Kyle’s prime being wasted. RCR, you had a legend and let him fade.” Hashtags like #FreeKyle and #BuschRegrets trended nationwide, blending nostalgia for his Gibbs glory days with calls for Busch to land at a powerhouse like Hendrick Motorsports or 23XI Racing.
Busch’s candid admission of personal regret struck a particularly raw nerve. In an era where drivers often project unbreakable confidence, his words echoed the vulnerability of a veteran confronting mortality in the sport. “I look back at the championships, the 200+ wins across series, and wonder if I peaked too soon,” he confessed. “This slump isn’t just stats—it’s sleepless nights, questioning every decision. Fans invested in me for the fire, not the frustration.” At 40, with a young family including son Brexton who’s already racing trucks, Busch hinted at broader reflections. “Racing’s my life, but it’s time to chase wins where they make sense, not force them. Maybe down the road, Brexton and I team up—that’s the dream keeping me going.”
Speculation about Busch’s next chapter is rife. Free agency after 2025 positions him as the crown jewel of the silly season, with whispers of interest from teams like Trackhouse Entertainment Group, which could pair him with Daniel Suarez in a Chevrolet alliance, or even a shock return to Toyota with a struggling 23XI squad. “Wherever I land, it’s about rebuilding that fire,” Busch said firmly. “I’m not done winning.” For RCR, the void is daunting. With grandson Austin Dillon in the No. 3 car, the team must now scout a replacement capable of restoring its championship pedigree—perhaps a young gun like Noah Gragson or a proven veteran like Martin Truex Jr.
As the 2025 playoffs loom, Busch’s final RCR laps carry added weight. The Bristol night race, under the brilliant lights of one of NASCAR’s most unforgiving venues, symbolizes the high-stakes drama ahead. Can “Rowdy” summon one last magic moment in black-and-red? Fans hope so, clinging to the regret-tinged what-ifs of a career that redefined aggression on the track. For now, the announcement closes a chapter laced with unfulfilled promise, leaving the garage area buzzing and the champion’s future tantalizingly open. In NASCAR, where fortunes flip faster than a spinout, Kyle Busch’s next move could reignite a legacy—or cement a poignant fade to black.
