Richard Childress Racing entered the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season expecting to run near the front, but the early results have not matched those expectations. Through the opening stretch, both Austin Dillon and Kyle Busch remain outside the top 10 in points.
That position leaves the team on the outside of the playoff picture as the schedule moves forward. Team owner Richard Childress addressed the situation in a recent interview and made it clear the organization is aware of the issues.
With more than five decades in the sport, Childress has seen slow starts before, but he stressed the urgency to improve as the season continues and the margin for error keeps shrinking.
Richard Childress says RCR is Still Searching for Answers
Childress spoke openly about the team’s performance and confirmed the season has not started the way Richard Childress Racing expected.
“It hasn’t been the season none of us had planned for sure.”
He pointed to the engineering department as the key area working to solve the problem. The team continues to rely on John Klausmeier and his group to identify what is missing in the current setup.
“We’re working hard at it. John Klausmeier, his whole group, engineering, is working on it. We’re missing something. We’ve got to find, people say what it is? If we knew, we’d fix it. But we’re working hard to figure it out, and we’re going to get there.”
Childress kept his message simple when discussing expectations for the team.
“You’ve got to finish first.”
The comments reflect the pressure within the organization as it seeks better results in the coming races. The focus remains on finding consistent speed and improving overall performance across both teams.
NASCAR Cup Series New Chevrolet Body Creates Early Challenge
Childress identified the new Chevrolet body introduced for the 2026 season as one of the main reasons behind the slow start. The updated design has required teams to adjust quickly, and not every organization has found the right balance yet.
“This new car has thrown us a little bit of a curve, this new body,” Childress said.
He compared RCR’s progress to Hendrick Motorsports, which has shown stronger performance with the same package.
“But Hendrick seems to have found some success with it, and we’re all going to get it. We’re working hard together to get it up there.”
The statement shows that Chevrolet teams are working together to improve. RCR continues to analyze data and make adjustments as it seeks to match the pace set by other teams within the same manufacturer group.
Bristol Motor Speedway Presents Key Opportunity
The upcoming race at Bristol Motor Speedway offers RCR a chance to improve its position. The short track is known for close racing and unpredictable outcomes, which can quickly change a team’s momentum.
“Bristol can be one of those tracks that will take you out. We’ve loaded three of them on the wrecker, and we’ve finished 1-2-3 there before. So it’s Bristol. I feel good about going there.”
The race provides an opportunity for Dillon and Busch to gain points and move closer to the top 10 in the standings. As the season continues, RCR remains focused on improving performance, finding speed, and delivering stronger finishes.
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