Kyle Busch fumes over struggling car at Las Vegas as Richard Childress Racing's gamble with Jim Pohlman faces scrutiny

NASCAR star Kyle Busch had a frustrating day at NASCAR Cup Series Las Vegas race. The veteran driver could not hide his anger as his car struggled badly during the race. Driving the No. 8 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, Busch found himself stuck deep in the field. At one point he was running around 25th place and several laps behind the race leader. As the race continued, the situation only got worse. Over the team radio, Busch openly shared how difficult it was to control the car. His message showed just how tough the race had become for him and the team.

He said during the,

“About busting my back, I’m dying.

It feels like through the run the front right height has gone down.

I don’t really know what’s happening.

It feels like the back is way high and the front is down and I keep spinning out.”

The comments reflected the frustration building inside the car. Busch was clearly trying to understand why the vehicle was not responding the way he expected. For a driver known for winning races almost every season, the tough afternoon in Las Vegas was another difficult moment.

Kyle Busch struggles in Las Vegas race as Richard Childress Racing gamble with crew chief Jim Pohlman faces early questions

The rough performance at Las Vegas was especially disappointing because things looked very different just a year earlier. During the same race last season, Kyle Busch and the Richard Childress Racing team had strong speed. Busch reminded reporters about that performance while speaking before the race.

He said, “Last year here, this race was really good for us. I thought we had really good speed. I think we qualified in the top 10, fourth in fact. We were running fourth before things went wrong.”

In that race, a bad pit stop and a loose wheel eventually ended their hopes. Even so, the car had the pace to fight for the win. This season, however, the story has been very different. Busch spent much of the race stuck near the back of the field and was unable to move forward during Stage 2.

The difficult run also raised questions about the team’s recent changes. Ahead of the 2026 season, Richard Childress Racing made a big decision by bringing back crew chief Jim Pohlman to work with Busch. The move was seen as a bold gamble. The team hoped the change would help Busch return to victory lane after a stretch without wins.

For now, though, the results have not been easy. The Las Vegas race showed just how challenging the season could be if the team cannot find more speed. Still, many people inside the NASCAR garage believe it may be too early to blame Pohlman. The crew chief has had success in the past and has proven he can lead competitive teams.

That means the focus may turn back to the overall performance of the No. 8 car and how quickly Richard Childress Racing can improve it. For Busch, the goal remains the same. He wants to return to winning races and bring the No. 8 team back to the front of the grid.





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