RCR Not Giving Up On Cup Playoffs: ‘We All Want More’

Kyle Busch (left) and Austin Dillon have struggled all year for Richard Childress Racing. (Nigel Kinrade/NKP photo)

WELCOME, N.C. – The urge of wanting more is a feeling that’s all too familiar for Richard Childress Racing midway through another forgettable NASCAR Cup Series season.

Just two years ago, the organization was supposed to be taking steps forward, after newly-acquired Kyle Busch won three races in 2023.

Since then, the organization only has one win in a year and a half, and even that came with controversy at Richmond (Va.) Raceway last August after Austin Dillon bullied his way to the trophy – but didn’t get the playoff berth because of how he won the race.

With five weeks left in this year’s regular season, the feelings of frustration haven’t changed headed into Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Brickyard 400.

So far this season, Busch and Dillon have combined for only two top fives and 10 top 10s. Busch sits 15th and Dillon is 28th overall, but both sit outside of the postseason field, far off the standard that RCR holds itself to as a multi-time Cup Series champion team.

But despite the fluctuation in results, Busch is just 39 points behind Bubba Wallace for the final playoff spot, even with his winning drought dating back to June of 2023.

It’s a small glimmer of hope amid a seemingly disastrous run for the veteran organization.

“I mean, we’re looking at points every week. I think we probably leave the fifth race of each year looking at points like ‘OK, where are we at and what are we doing?’” said Busch. “But honestly, points take care of themselves when you run well. Results are what matters. Being able to get stage points and being able to get good finishes will all equate to higher point totals, and you don’t have to look at the sheet.

“However, obviously with a ‘win and you're in’ format, you really don’t have to pay any attention to it.”

The 40-year-old Busch has improved his finishing position in recent weeks, with three finishes of 11th or better since a fifth-place finish at the Chicago (Ill.) Street Course on July 6.

Twenty-one races into the year, however, the organization is still in search of race-winning speed, and Busch knows it.

“That's certainly on our radar right now. We've had a couple of good weeks where we've made up some of the deficit,” Busch noted, referring to the playoff cutline. “I feel like there is potential and opportunity for us to continue that way, and we want to continue to climb that way and put ourselves above the cut for making the playoffs.”

But team owner Richard Childress, like his drivers, wants race-winning pace. RCR doesn’t want a second consecutive season where both teams scramble at the 11th hour of the regular season and try to throw a ‘Hail Mary’ to find victory lane.

Childress said post race at Dover on Busch's team radio, “We have got to get some [competitive] race cars, [or] we are in trouble. … Period.”

In the team’s flagship No. 3, Austin Dillon has finished outside the top 15 nine times in the last 10 races, dating back to May. Last weekend at Dover, though, the 35-year-old was able to finish 15th after a late strategy call paid dividends.

“We probably should have run about 20th all day, so that was a pretty decent finish at Dover considering that. We started 23rd and ran right around there until [crew chief] Richard Boswell made a call mid race to stay out during a pit stop cycle to earn us some track position,” said Dillon. “It’s amazing how much better our Chevy’s handling was in clean air. After the rain delay, we decided to stay out again and took a gamble that we would be able to hang onto the top 10, and maybe even leave with a top-five finish.

“We just didn’t have enough at the end on old tires and ended up 15th. We have to get more out of our race cars. We all want more. And we’ll keep at it.”

RCR isn’t on the same level, performance wise, as a Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing or Team Penske. However, in Dillon’s case, his No. 3 shouldn’t be ranked 24th in the league in average finish, especially a year after the organization overhauled its personnel in the competition department.

The same goes for Busch, as the No. 8 hasn’t won in two years.

However, with another week comes a new opportunity. At Indianapolis, Dillon finished 13th last year and Busch is a two-time Brickyard 400 winner in his career.

While RCR hasn’t totally hit the panic button on their 2025 season, the seat is certainly getting hot with five weeks left until the playoffs. Dillon is the defending Richmond winner, which comes up in three weeks, but the team isn’t at all in a position they want to be in.

If things don’t turn around, they could be in jeopardy of two straight seasons without either car competing for a championship. Busch and Dillon will look to change that narrative this weekend at the Racing Capital of the World.

Coverage of the 29th Brickyard 400 presented by PPG from Indianapolis begins Sunday, July 27 at 2 p.m. ET on TNT, the IMS Radio Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.