3 weeks from today there will be Cup Series action on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway. Excitement is starting to build as IMSA will kick off their Rolex 24 weekend tomorrow. Daytona is about to become a busy place. One team that will look forward to heading south is RCR’s 8 team. After Kyle Busch’s first winless season in 19 years, both driver and team will look for redemption in 2025. With 21 Days to Daytona, time to preview the 2025 season for the Richard Childress Racing #8 team.
The #8 Team
Driver: Kyle Busch
Crew Chief: Randall Burnett
Sponsors: Cheddars, Lucas Oil, Lenovo, Rebel Bourbon
2024 Statistics: 5 Top-5s, 10 Top-10s, 1 Pole, 230 Laps Led, 18.3 Average Finish
2025 Season Preview
Recovering From Winless Season
Although 2023 did end on a sour note for Kyle Busch, no one could have expected him to go winless last year. While Busch did come close to picking up that elusive win, he never managed to secure it. After suffering his first winless season since his rookie year, the question is how Kyle Busch will respond to it. Busch has featured a calmer attitude during his RCR tenure. Will that last if the struggles continue deep into 2025?
Top Name in Silly Season
Kyle Busch started to spring up in last year’s silly season rumor mill. Based on the poor results from the 8 team, speculation started that Busch would look to exit his contract a year early. Ultimately, that did not occur. However, that speculation does imply that Busch will be heavily featured in silly season discussions. A winless 2024 definitely sparked some dialogue about his future with RCR. If he does want to leave, where would he go? Is there a top team that would open a spot for him or would Busch be making a sideways leap?
Kyle Busch Revenge Tour
After how poorly 2024 went, fans should expect a motivated Kyle Busch this season. Maybe titling it a “revenge tour” is too far, but Busch still has some fire left in him. He already has shown that off a bit year, putting together an impressive run in the Chili Bowl. Busch might be on the tail end of his career, but he can still knock out a multi-win season. Championship aspirations might be a stretch. That said, seeing Busch pull together 3-5 wins this season and emerging as playoff threat is definitely on the table.
Daytona 500 Outlook
Currently, the betting favorite for the Daytona 500 is Kyle Busch. Despite coming off a no-win season, Busch leading as the favorite does add up. In his first 2 Daytona 500 starts with Richard Childress Racing, Busch has worked well with Austin Dillon to be leading late in the race. Famously, Rowdy did lead the 200th lap in the 2023 Daytona 500. Unfortunately for him, the race went into overtime and he managed to wreck out. That said, Busch in the 8 car has been a formidable competitor at Daytona. Will 2025 finally be the season where Kyle Busch claims the Daytona 500?
Even dating back to his last year with Joe Gibbs Racing, Kyle Busch has been a savant at Daytona in the NextGen car. His worst finish at the track during this era was 19th in the aforementioned 2023 Daytona 500. He has a streak of 7 straight Daytona races where he has led at least 5 laps. Despite what he says about hating this style of racing, Busch manages to thrive at Daytona. Kicking the year off with a Daytona 500 win after going winless the year prior would be the perfect introduction to a Kyle Busch “revenge tour”.
Days to Daytona Countdown
40 Days: Team Penske #22; 39 Days: Team Penske #12; 38 Days: Hendrick #24;
37 Days: 23XI Racing #45; 36 Days: Joe Gibbs Racing #20;
35 Days: Hendrick Motorsports #5; 34 Days: Hendrick Motorsports #9
33 Days: Joe Gibbs Racing #11, 32 Days: Henrick Motorsports #48;
31 Days: Joe Gibbs Racing #19; 30 Days: Team Penske #2;
29 Days: Trackhouse Racing #99; 28 Days: RFK Racing #6;
27 Days: Trackhouse Racing #88; 26 Days: Joe Gibbs Racing #54;
25 Days: Wood Brothers Racing #21; 24 Days: RFK Racing #17;
23 Days: 23XI Racing #23; 22 Days: Trackhouse Racing #1
