Austin Dillon reveals biggest difference at RCR since Kyle Busch's death

Richard Childress Racing driver Austin Dillon. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Austin Dillon reveals biggest difference at RCR since Kyle Busch's death

By Samuel Stubbs | Last updated Aug 12, 2026 6:10 PM ET

As harsh a reality as it was, the world, including the NASCAR garage, somehow kept turning after the shocking death of Kyle Busch on May 21.

The death of one of NASCAR's greatest drivers rocked the NASCAR industry. The ensuing race weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway was appropriately drab and dreary, with rain falling constantly and postponing the scheduled racing action.

Yet both NASCAR and Busch's team, Richard Childress Racing, have pressed on since his death, with Austin Hill taking over Busch's ride and racing alongside Austin Dillon at RCR.

Hill will run a special tribute paint scheme honoring Busch in Saturday's race at Richmond, an event that Dillon, the two-time defending Richmond winner, could very well win.

A bow that meant so much. ❤️

This weekend, we honor Kyle with his signature bow featured on the hood. A simple gesture. A lasting legacy.@forthepeople pic.twitter.com/zODyNDBMR3
— RCR (@RCRracing) August 10, 2026

Speaking Wednesday on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Dillon spoke about what has been missing around the shop at RCR since Busch's death.

How RCR has changed after Kyle Busch's death

"It's definitely not the easiest," Dillon said. "Kyle was a big part of what we were doing up here. From an experience standpoint, you can't ever get that back. I think the biggest thing that we've all leaned into is just working hard. Austin has been a great teammate, and he's trying his butt off to do everything that he can to make those guys happy and get them excited about going to track every weekend.

"We're putting in the effort. We're working, and I think that's why Kyle would want us to do, is to keep pushing. That's the fashion and everything he brought: go do whatever it takes to go win. That's what we're trying to get back to."

RCR hasn't won a Cup race since Dillon's 2025 victory at Richmond, and a third straight win at the Virginia short track for Dillon would be an emotional victory and a fitting way to honor Busch.

Samuel Stubbs

Hailing from the same neck of the woods as NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, Samuel has been covering NASCAR for Yardbarker since February 2024. He has been a member of the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) since October of 2024. When he’s not writing about racing, Samuel covers Arkansas Razorback basketball for Yardbarker

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