Kyle Busch, who has struggled over the last few years, was hoping for a turnaround in fortunes in 2026. Going by how things have panned out four races into the season so far, Busch’s winless streak looks set to continue. The No.8 Richard Childress Racing driver has run in 97 races without a trip to Victory Lane.
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So far this season, Busch has managed three top-20 finishes, including one in the top 15. Meanwhile, he has said that he plans to keep racing until his 10-year-old son, Brexton Busch, climbs up the ladder and shares the track with him. However, with each passing race without a win, the talk around the garage grows louder.
Fans of Busch continue to wait for the tide to turn, only to leave race weekends with the same disappointment. Now voices from inside the sport have weighed in on what may lie ahead for the 40-year-old two-time Cup Series champion.
During a segment on Inside the Race, former driver turned analyst Kyle Petty spoke about Busch’s season and the chances of the No. 8 car breaking through. Petty said he would like to see Busch reach Victory Lane, but he does not expect it to happen this year.
“I don’t think we’re going to win,” Petty said, repeating the statement more than once. He also made it clear his opinion had nothing to do with Busch’s skill behind the wheel.
“I think Kyle Bush is one of the greatest race car drivers ever to crawl through a window and strap into one of these things. And I think he still is today,” said Petty.
“I think he still is today. But that team is just far enough out of where they need to be that he can’t put that car on his back and carry it,” he added.
The discussion then turned to Steve Letarte, who once called the shots on the pit box for Hendrick Motorsports. He echoed the same line of thinking when looking at Busch’s season. He pointed to the change on the pit box, where Jim Pohlman has stepped in as Busch’s crew chief for the 2026 campaign.
Teams often make such moves in hopes of turning the page. A new voice or a shift in approach can sometimes change the fortunes of a driver. Even with that move, Letarte said the gap on track between the No. 8 team and the front of the field remains apparent. From a performance standpoint, he said he cannot point to signs that a win will arrive through pace alone.
That does not close the door on the chance of a surprise, though. In NASCAR, fortunes and results can get flipped in a heartbeat. Trouble for the leaders, a caution at the right time, or a gamble on pit road can hand a driver an opening that did not seem to exist before.
Busch’s experience could still put him in a position if the right circumstances appear during a race. However, those breaks come along only once in a while.
