2023 Season in Review: Richard Childress Racing

#8 3CHI / Cheddar’s Chevrolet

Driver: Kyle Busch

Crew Chief: Randall Burdett

Engines: Earnhardt-Childress

2023 Season Grade: B

  Nobody really knew what to expect fully when Kyle Busch left long-time team Joe Gibbs Racing for the greener pastures of Richard Childress Racing. Taking over the #8 Chevrolet vacated by Tyler Reddick, Busch was looking to improve both he and the team’s position heading into 2023. Crew chief Randall Burdett returned to the team as well, allowing the RCR crew to keep the foundation built in 2022.

As with many teams in 2023, the Daytona 500 did not go as planned for Busch. Making his RCR debut in the #8 would get swept up in one of the late crashes, placing him 19th. This however, would be followed by Busch’s first win since Bristol 2022. Busch had a dominant day in California, easily scoring his first win for RCR…but inconsistency would follow.

Busch would score two more wins (Talladega and Gateway), and notch 10 top 5 finishes, but many finishes in the later part of season became inconsistent. Busch would not finish better than 18th in the last three races, and wrap up the season 14th in the final standings (with 6 DNF’s).

2024 Outlook: With the team fully returning in 2024, and a year under their belts expect Busch to come out swinging. Many races in 2023 did not have the desired end result, despite the speed the 8 car had most weeks. If Busch and crew can turn around some bad luck, expect the team to try and match 2023’s win total and make a serious playoff run.

2024 Season Results by Track:

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#3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet

Driver: Austin Dillon

Crew Chief: Keith Rodden

Engines: Earnhardt-Childress

2023 Season Grade: C-

 In 2023, Austin Dillon entered his 10th season behind the wheel of the famed #3 Chevrolet.  While RCR overall did have a slight increase in performance, the 3 team had what could be considered a season that has mirrored previous seasons. While Dillon is considered to be a solid top 20 driver, he had a surprisingly up and down season.

Much like teammate Kyle Busch, Dillon was caught up a Daytona 500 wreck and finished 33rd. RCR in total had a good Fontana race the week after, with Busch winning and Dillon coming home 9th. Several mid-pack finishes would set the theme for the season afterwards, but there were some bright spots. Dillon would finish 3rd on the Bristol dirt, as well as score a handful of 9th place finishes scattered throughout the schedule. 

In October, it was announced that veteran crew chief Keith Rodden would take over on the pit box for the 3 team, and there was somewhat of an improvement. Dillon would score four top 15 finishes in the seasons final 5 races, with the blemish being a 23rd in Martinsville. The team would finish 29th in the final standings with an average finish of 21st and 10 DNF’s.

2024 Outlook: Thus far, the 3 team will be returning intact for 2024 with hopes Dillon and Rodden can bolster the teams performance. In order for the team to improve however, the number of DNF’s will have to greatly decrease, while consistency could be a key part in RCR’s flagship team getting better. Expect Dillon to have strong runs at short tracks and superspeedways, but the removal of the dirt on Bristol  greatly changes the 3 car’s opening slate of races. Dillon is considered one of the better dirt racers in the Cup Series, and stood the best chance of winning in this event.

2024 Season Results by Track: