Regardless of being a proud group with over 50 years of historical past, Richard Childress Racing at the moment seems to be like a group that simply rolled into the storage space yesterday.
Each Kyle Busch and Austin Dillon are in peril of lacking the playoffs, sitting nineteenth and thirty second in factors, respectively. 2024 has been one of many worst seasons in group historical past, and the outcomes have been particularly surprising after Busch received three races in 2023.
Whereas Dillon’s 2023 was nothing particular, he received and made the playoffs in 2022. The group’s struggles this yr have been unprecedented, with each drivers trying misplaced at occasions on the racetrack.
Busch has three finishes of thirty fifth during the last 4 races, and continues to fall behind in his push to make the playoffs. Dillon, in the meantime, has collected solely two top-10 finishes and can virtually actually want a win to make the playoffs.
The worst a part of RCR’s present scenario? There does not appear to be one clear downside. Whether or not or not it’s unhealthy luck, gradual automobiles or driver error, Richard Childress Racing merely cannot catch a break in 2024. The shortage of uncooked pace has maybe been essentially the most surprising improvement, particularly contemplating Busch was thought-about a championship favourite within the first half of 2023.
Whereas getting Busch into the postseason is rather more possible than Dillon pulling off one other miraculous victory, the truth that it has been such a battle for the two-time champ this season may be very telling. Busch actually does not appear to be the driving force in he was within the again half of the 2010’s, however only one season in the past he proved he was nonetheless able to profitable races.
All indicators appears to level to inner struggles for RCR, and with Dillon persistently being an afterthought, the group would not have the ability to distract followers from the truth that Busch missed the postseason if it had been to occur.
There’s little optimism surrounding RCR’s two Cup Sequence groups in the intervening time, and there is little motive to say that issues are destined to show round.
Proper now, the information are the information: Richard Childress Racing is off the tempo, and neither Dale Earnhardt nor Kevin Harvick are strolling by way of the door anytime quickly.