Dale Earnhardt Jr. reacts to Jim Pohlman going to RCR, becoming crew chief for Kyle Busch

Kyle Busch and the No. 8 team will have new leadership next season. Richard Childress Racing announced last week the hiring of Jim Pohlman as crew chief for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Pohlman is leaving his post as crew chief for Justin Allgaier and the No. 7 JR Motorsports team in the Xfinity Series. Dale Earnhardt Jr. knows it will be difficult to replace what Pohlman brought to his organization. However, he’s very happy to see him get an opportunity to perform in Cup.

“Look, it is hard to replace a guy like Jim,” Earnhardt said on Tuesday’s Dale Jr. Download. “I told Jim I wanted him to stay, but I knew he had this opportunity, and that it was great for him to go and hear it out. We’ve had a lot of conversations with Jim over the last couple of months around what the plan was. Justin has a couple of years left, he’s sort of in that Denny Hamlin phase where he’s not quite sure, but he knows the runway is out there. He’s landing the plane and Jim knows that. What does that mean for Jim? So, here’s an opportunity provided to him to go Cup racing. He’s worked at RCR before, so he knows that environment. He would know himself whether that’s a comfortable environment for him.

“He made the choice to go. I love it. It’s tough to replace him. Are we better with him? Yes, we’re a much better race team with Jim in the building, but that’s what this team is about. … We’ve had a lot of different drivers and crew chiefs go off to other organizations. That is what this company is about. That is what this company does. He’s earned it, he gave us a championship, maybe two depending on how things go here at Phoenix.”

Kyle Busch, No. 8 team will have a new look in 2026

Pohlman and Allgaier won a championship together in 2024. They will look to go back-to-back next month at Phoenix Raceway.

But come February at Daytona International Speedway, Pohlman will be sitting atop Busch’s pit box. Busch, the two-time Cup champion, tallied three victories in his first 15 starts with RCR. He is winless since June 2023 at Gateway. Busch has gone consecutive seasons without a playoff appearance.

In bringing aboard Pohlman, RCR is inviting a new voice and fresh ideas into the No. 8 team. Earnhardt fancies the pairing’s ability to be successful.

“Kyle Busch even commented on Jim’s leadership and what he saw Jim accomplish here at this business as something he was excited about for next year. So, I’m ready for them to get to the racetrack. I can’t wait to see how Jim and Kyle do next year,” Earnhardt said. “… I think Jim can do it, man. He’s detailed, he works his tail off and he is in the details.

“That is what it’s gonna take, especially with that car, the Cup car that the guys are racing. Every thousandth of a fraction of a freaking inch and every little piece and part is what you gotta work for to gain an advantage. You got to add it all up, and he is into it. I think he’ll have some success there.”