Why poor Phoenix run is a concern for Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing

You might not know it by his 17th-place result in Sunday's Straight Talk Wireless 500 at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday, but Kyle Busch and his No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet were dreadfully slow for much of Sunday's race. 

Busch fell into the 30s early in the race and was a lap down multiple times after a pair of flat tires. Even when he was on the lead lap, he wasn't going much of anywhere. 

It was only thanks to a two-tire pit call in Stage 3 that Busch briefly got into the top 10 and ultimately finished 17th. 

Phoenix a warning shot for Kyle Busch

The problem is that it took such a call for Busch and his team to squeak out a top-20 finish. 

Phoenix was widely considered to be the first true litmus test of the season in regard to each organization's speed, and RCR flunked. Austin Dillon cracked the top 10 before suffering a flat tire late, but Busch and Austin Hill both ran near the back of the field for much of the afternoon.

The tale was one Busch is likely quite tired of: He just didn't have the speed, and the 40-year-old driver isn't the miracle worker he once was, either.

Busch went winless in 2024 and 2025 with RCR after winning thrice in the first half of 2023. But for the last two and a half seasons, the No. 8 has been a mainstay in the back half of the pack. 

It's early in 2026, but four races into the season, Busch is 20th in the standings. If his team brings similar speed to Las Vegas next week and for the remainder of the season, it's hard to see a scenario where that winless streak is broken.