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NASCAR insider singles out candidate for Kyle Busch crew chief in 2026

ProfilePhotoby: Nick Geddes20 hours agoNickGeddesNews
Kyle Busch
Joe Puetz-Imagn Images

Kyle Busch and the No. 8 team will have new leadership in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. Trackhouse Racing announced last week that crew chief Randall Burnett is leaving the No. 8 team to serve in the same position for Connor Zilisch next season.

Richard Childress Racing then announced Wednesday that Burnett will be replaced by Andy Street as crew chief starting this weekend at the Charlotte ROVAL. Does that mean Busch/Street will be the driver/crew chief pairing in 2026? It certainly makes Street a candidate, Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports said.

“TBD on who will be Kyle Busch crew chief in 2026,” Pockrass wrote on X. “Would think Andy Street could be a candidate if things went well but just think this was easiest move b/c Street isn’t crew chiefing anyone (other than the 33 Cup car) at the moment.”

Kyle Busch, No. 8 team make changes to close 2025 season

Street has served as crew chief for RCR’s third entry (No. 33 Chevrolet) in seven Cup races this season. He has worked four races with Austin Hill and three races with Jesse Love. Street served as Hill’s crew chief from 2022-24 in the Xfinity Series. He has 11 wins in 167 races as a crew chief in Xfinity.

“With Richard Childress Racing and Randall Burnett parting ways at the end of the season, RCR has decided Andy Street will step in as crew chief of the No. 8 team with driver Kyle Busch effective this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway,” RCR said in a statement. “Burnett will continue contributing in a support role with the organization through the end of the season. Additional information regarding future competition roles will be shared at a later date.”

Busch and the No. 8 team are looking for better results to end the season, and hopefully a complete turnaround in 2026. The two-time Cup champion won three races in his first 15 starts with RCR. He is winless since June 2023 at Gateway, missing the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.

The past two years have been frustrating for Rowdy. The results have not been there and clearly, RCR is doing whatever they can to get him and his team going.