AJ Allmendinger attempts to diagnose problems for Kyle Busch, No. 8 team in 2025

While they aren’t teammates exactly, AJ Allmendinger and Kyle Busch have worked closely together this season. Kaulig Racing has a relationship with Richard Childress Racing. The Kaulig shop is on the RCR campus in Welcome, NC.

During this season, we have seen struggles for each ECR engine team. RCR, Kaulig, and Trackhouse Racing. Kyle Busch, AJ Allmendinger, and even Ross Chastain have had complaints about the speed of their racecars this season.

Speaking on the Door Bumper Clear podcast this week, Allmendinger was asked about the struggles of the No. 8 team. He had a little bit of insight given Kaulig’s relationship with RCR.

“I can’t explain on their side of it. … I don’t know, I don’t have a perfect answer for it,” Allmendinger said. “We’ve worked very close this year. You know, I will say, and I don’t want to speak on Kyle’s behalf, but he definitely – they have a lack of feel in the racecar right now. Because Kyle is one of the best we’ve ever seen, he always will be, and it’s not like he just woke up one day and forgot, ah, I can’t drive anymore, right? Compared to what he used to.

“They’re just lacking feel, and you know, at times, we’re just generally trying to find more speed. Just as a group. You know, if you base us off of Trackhouse at times, and then obviously, Hendrick Motorsports, which is, you know, that’s the pinnacle on the Chevy team and always will be. So, you know, they’re definitely, we’re all in search mode a little bit, but I think on their group, and obviously, there’s turnover now, with Randall leaving.”

The struggles that Kyle Busch is having, AJ Allmendinger can relate to. There is something universal about those struggles that the 8 team has had the last two years.

“I fight this all the time, we all fight this, in life, I think,” Allmendinger said. “You start struggling, you lack confidence, and then you don’t start trusting yourself. It’s difficult.”

So, what is going on with Kyle Busch? AJ Allmendinger makes it sound like it is a setup issue. It is no secret that ECR engine teams have had trouble with speed. But Trackhouse has won races this season. Kaulig has been better at times than RCR. So, does it all fall on RCR?

Going to the Roval, Andy Street will be the crew chief for Busch. Randall Burnett is still with RCR until the end of the season. However, he will be going to Trackhouse to pair up with incoming rookie Connor Zilisch.