RCR Immediately Replaces Kyle Busch’s Crew Chief in Bold Move

Richard Childress Racing makes an immediate crew chief change for Kyle Busch ahead of Charlotte’s ROVAL. Andy Street replaces Randall Burnett on the No. 8 Chevrolet, effective this weekend.

The move happens five races earlier than planned, signalling a reset for the closing phase of 2025 as RCR searches for performance and consistency after a difficult summer.

Burnett, Busch’s crew chief since 2020, will leave RCR after 2026 to join Trackhouse Racing and oversee rookie Connor Zilisch. He remains with RCR this year in a support role.

The ROVAL blends road-course technique with oval priorities, a hybrid within the types of motorsports. That mix amplifies set-up compromises, tyre management, and caution timing.

Strategy precision matters here. Communication quality, pit windows, and restart execution typically dictate track position. That increases the importance of clean, decisive calls from a new pit box.

Street brings depth from the Xfinity Series. He has 167 starts and 11 wins as crew chief, including Austin Hill’s 2023 Championship 4 and Myatt Snider’s breakthrough victory.

He also handled seven Cup races this year on RCR’s part-time No. 33. The best finish under Street was ninth, delivered by Hill at the Chicago Street Course.

Busch sits 22nd in the standings after a prolonged slump. He has nine results outside the top 16 in the last ten races, and hasn’t won since Gateway in June 2023.

RCR’s near-term objective is stabilising set-up direction and pit strategy. Street’s familiarity with Chevrolet tools and internal processes should shorten the adaptation curve with Busch.

Burnett’s continued involvement offers continuity and knowledge transfer. Expect support on baseline packages, simulation correlation, and weekend workflows as responsibilities transition to Street.

Pit operations and safety will remain critical enablers. The importance of fire suits in NASCAR underscores the procedural discipline crews need under pressure.

Charlotte’s profile adds weight to this call. The venue also hosts the Coca-Cola 600, highlighted in Prime Video’s Coca-Cola 600 coverage, making ROVAL data especially valuable for RCR.

RCR has not confirmed its 2026 competition structure. More updates are promised as plans crystallise. For now, Street leads at the track while Burnett supports off the box.

Performance in the coming weeks will define whether this reset sticks. Fans tracking the field can benchmark Busch against the top NASCAR drivers through season’s end.

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