AJ Allmendinger Blames “Lacking Feel” for Kyle Busch’s RCR struggles

AJ Allmedinger pondered over the reasons behind Kyle Busch's massive winless streak with Richard Childress Racing in recent years.

AJ Allmendinger Blames “Lacking Feel” for Kyle Busch’s RCR struggles

Kyle Busch (via Imagn), AJ Allmendinger (via Getty)

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Kyle Busch‘s performance in recent years has remained extremely insignificant. Busch suffers from a massive 82-race winless streak, which seems to only increase with each passing race. Even the crew at Richard Childress Racing is unable to figure out the issues and help the #8 driver improve his results. Now, Kaulig Racing driver AJ Allmendinger has weighed in and provided his two cents on the dismal slump for the former.

The ECR engines utilized by RCR, Kaulig, and Trackhouse Racing have all faced a difficult outing in the 2025 season. Even Ross Chastain had talked about the team’s woeful results in the 2025 season, especially with the ECR engines. As such, Kyle Busch‘s failure this year can partly be attributed to the failure of the engines in the car. Still, Busch’s experience should have helped him find an out of the massive struggles.

Kaulig Racing has a technical alliance with RCR Racing; hence, AJ Allmendinger feels confident enough to comment on the two-time Cup Series champion’s track record. Initially, Allmendinger accepted that he couldn’t explain the struggles that RCR was currently facing. He added that he did not have a perfect answer to explain the #8 crew’s problems.

AJ Allmendinger insisted that he worked closely with RCR and Co., but he still did not want to speak on Kyle Busch’s behalf. The 43-year-old reckoned that the team lacked a certain feel in the race car, which caused them to suffer from such a slump. Allmendinger reiterated that the team was lacking feel in the car and was trying to find more speed in the Challenger.

I can’t explain on their side of it. … I don’t know, I don’t have a perfect answer for it, 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. They’re just lacking feel, and you know, at times, we’re just generally trying to find more speed. 

AJ Allmendinger said on the Door Bumper Clear podcast.

AJ Allmendinger labels Kyle Busch ‘one of the best drivers’

Although recent times have been tough for Kyle Busch, no one can strip him of his massive achievements in NASCAR. Busch remains a two-time Cup Series champion, three-time Xfinity champion, and his multiple crown jewel race victories are just some of the achievements in his career. As such, AJ Allmendinger christens the 40-year-old with an impressive title regardless of his current woes.

Kyle Busch's win at the 2023 Enjoy Illinois 300 (via Getty)
Kyle Busch’s win at the 2023 Enjoy Illinois 300 (via Getty)

AJ Allmendinger insisted that Kyle Busch remained one of the best drivers witnessed in NASCAR. He noted that Busch will always be among the greats, solely because of his results in the sport. Allmendinger insisted that his current woes weren’t because of him waking up one day and forgetting how to drive at the pinnacle of stock racing.

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.

AJ Allmedinger noted.

Kyle Busch has suffered from multiple issues with the Next-Gen cars, which is a massive reason behind his failure in recent years. Still, it wouldn’t take too long for the RCR veteran to return to his winning ways after finding his rhythm. Time will tell about how Busch manages to keep his struggles under control and start achieving great results, and potentially contend for his coveted third Cup Series title.

Read More: Kyle Petty Uses ‘Crazy Theory’ to Explain 23XI and Trackhouse’s 2025 Struggles