Richard Childress Racing is making an early-season adjustment — and it’s a telling one.
The organization will not field its No. 33 Chevrolet in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway, stepping away from its part-time third entry as it works to address broader performance issues across the team.
That decision puts the focus squarely back on RCR’s two full-time Cup Series programs — the No. 3 car driven by Austin Dillon and the No. 8 car piloted by Kyle Busch — both of which have also struggled to open the 2026 season.
How the No. 33 Fits Into RCR’s Lineup
GettyKyle Busch and Richard Childress during qualifying for the 2026 Daytona 500 as RCR evaluates performance early in the season
The No. 33 Chevrolet was introduced as a part-time entry for select races this season, giving RCR a third car alongside its two chartered teams.
Shared by Jesse Love and Austin Hill, the car was intended to provide additional track presence and development opportunities while expanding the organization’s footprint on race weekends.
But through its early appearances, the results haven’t followed.
Love opened with a 27th-place finish at Circuit of the Americas, followed by Hill finishing 21st at Phoenix. The program took a step backward at Martinsville, where Hill brought the car home 33rd — its worst finish of the season.
Now, for at least one weekend, the program is on pause.
Struggles Extend Beyond the Third Car
The move isn’t happening in isolation.
Through the opening stretch of the 2026 season, both Dillon (No. 3) and Busch (No. 8) sit outside the top 10 in points — a position that puts immediate pressure on a team with expectations of competing at the front.
That broader context makes the No. 33 decision more than just a lineup tweak. It’s a signal.
RCR appears to be narrowing its focus, prioritizing improvements to its primary cars as it works to regain speed.
Childress: ‘We’re Missing Something’
Team owner Richard Childress didn’t shy away from the reality of the situation.
“It hasn’t been the season none of us had planned for sure.”
And when it comes to identifying the issue, the answer isn’t simple.
“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.”
That level of uncertainty is notable for an organization with RCR’s experience.
It suggests the issue isn’t just execution — it’s something deeper within the setup or performance package.
New Chevrolet Body Creating Early Separation
Part of the challenge may lie in the updated Chevrolet body introduced for the 2026 season.
“This new car has thrown us a little bit of a curve, this new body,” Childress said.
While some teams have adapted quickly, others are still working to find the right balance. Within Chevrolet’s camp, Hendrick Motorsports has already shown race-winning speed — raising the urgency for organizations like RCR to close the gap.
“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.”
Bristol Puts Pressure on RCR’s Core Lineup
With the No. 33 sidelined, all attention shifts to the No. 3 and No. 8 this weekend.
Bristol doesn’t wait for teams to figure things out.
It exposes them.
The short track’s tight confines and heavy traffic demand precision — and any lack of speed or handling quickly becomes apparent.
At the same time, it presents an opportunity to flip 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.”
What This Decision Signals Moving Forward
The No. 33 program is expected to return later this season, but skipping Bristol suggests a shift in priorities.
For now, the focus is clear:
- Fix the speed
- Stabilize performance
- Get the No. 3 and No. 8 back into contention
Because in the current NASCAR Cup Series landscape, falling behind early creates a deficit that’s difficult to overcome.
And right now, Richard Childress Racing isn’t just chasing results. It’s chasing answers.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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