FORT WORTH, Texas — The voices in Kyle Busch’s head have changed frequently over the years. One is back for more as Richard Childress Racing attempts to right the No. 8 team.
Hours after scoring RCR’s first top-10 finish of the 2026 season last Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway, Jim Pohlman was relieved of his duties as crew chief of the No. 8 car. The organization announced Monday that Andy Street will replace Pohlman as crew chief effective immediately, while Pohlman moves to a leadership role in the competition department.
RELATED: Texas schedule | At-track photos: Texas
Pohlman’s jump from JR Motorsports’ O’Reilly Auto Parts Series program to the Cup Series pit box lasted only 10 races, with Busch and the No. 8 team ranked a dismal 27th in Cup Series points.
“I think the writing is in the points standings,” Busch said in a cheerful mood after finishing runner-up in Friday evening’s Craftsman Truck Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. “We’re not where we need to be. There’s got to be a change somewhere. From my understanding, I feel like the conversation with Jim was well received and he was fine with it.”
Austin Dillon revealed earlier Friday that Busch led a positive meeting with the entire RCR shop floor shortly after the news broke. In steps Street, who worked with the two-time Cup champion for the final five events of the 2025 campaign.
“I thanked Jim for his leadership and for him being there and being a part of the team and what he did for the time,” Busch said of the town hall meeting. “I’m full in; I’m all committed. I’ve never probably worked as much in these last four years as I did in 15 at JGR. That’s due to us needing to get better and us getting the things heading in the right direction.
“We’ve got to put the train back on the tracks and have a direction of what we need to do in order to be able to go forward. Just reiterating all of that and giving them the vote of confidence that we’re all in this together and we’re digging in.”
Street takes over a No. 8 program that sits 66 points below The Chase cutline with 16 races remaining. Since the start of 2025, he has been on the Cup side at RCR, spending the previous handful of seasons as a crew chief for the company’s O’Reilly program. He has called the shots for the team’s part-time No. 33 entry in seven races last year, and another four this season.
Dillon believes Street was the best choice to replace Pohlman.
“I think [Street has] shown that his ability to work with Kyle at the end of the year last year and have some solid runs,” Dillon said. “I think that’s what the obvious move was to make. I think it should be a positive tone for that team. What I like to see is when that team’s in there with us after practice and we’re all in there trying to move the needle forward.”
Having that prior experience with Street – which included a pair of top-10 finishes and a fifth-place effort in the 2025 season finale at Phoenix Raceway – could pay dividends. Busch knows what to expect and it’s someone that is fairly straightforward in their approach.
“Andy and I, we conversate a lot and did a lot last year,” Busch said. “I feel like he’s (got) a simpler mentality about how he goes about looking at things. It has to make sense to him for him to be able to believe it and he doesn’t just believe in what the computer tells him. I feel like that’s a good way of being back to basics and a little bit more methodical about race cars.”
MORE: Letarte, McMurray analyze the swap
Busch also knows that the immediate fix isn’t switching crew chiefs. But it could be the first of multiple steps to get the No. 8 team back towards the front of the pack.
“[Do] we come to Texas and flip everything around and run top 10 right here, right now? Not sure about that,” Busch said. “We certainly have done all of our due diligence this week in trying to be as prepared as we best know how.”
Going the first nine races without cracking the top 10 was the longest stretch Busch has ever gone into a season without banking a top 10. He holds an average finish of 22.1, more than four positions worse from 2025. It’s on pace to be the worst year of his career in many of the major statistical categories.
However, Busch isn’t throwing in the towel. This move is the exact opposite of that. Add that the 63-time Cup winner is in a contract year and know that he has a lot left to prove.
“I feel like we’re in this together anyways,” Busch stated. “I love Richard (Childress, team owner). I feel like we’ve worked really well together. Austin has been a phenomenal teammate that I’ve been able to work with. I feel like he’s one of the best that I’ve had. It’s been a joyful time working with him. It’s just the results aren’t there. We’ve got to line that up and try to be better in order to get those.”
Dillon confirmed that Pohlman will remain in the organization, though RCR hasn’t listed his title. Ultimately, it’s going to be a swap from positions with Street.