NASCAR News: Kyle Busch 'increasingly likely' to sign 2027 contract with Cup Series team

Amid a winless streak which stretched past 100 NASCAR Cup Series races earlier this year, talk of Kyle Busch leaving Richard Childress Racing at the end of his contract has been circulating.

The 41-year-old hasn't won a Cup Series race since June 2023 and has cut a frustrated figure in recent months, clearly irritated by his lack of pace in the later years of a first ballot Hall of Fame career.

All of that has, in theory, opened the door for him to leave the organization when his contract is up at the end of the year to chase wins elsewhere. The only major obstacle to that plan? He doesn't have anywhere particularly attractive to go.

The Athletic's Jordan Bianchi reported on Thursday that the two-time Cup Series champion is 'increasingly likely' to double down and sign a contract extension with RCR, with any other options on the table representing a step even further down the performance ladder.

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Busch contract extension creates problems for RCR

The length of that potential extension is unknown, although logic would dictate that it would be a multi-year deal. After all, if Busch continues to run in the mid-pack and below the Chase cut line next year on a one-year deal, he's unlikely to have a better drive waiting for him elsewhere. If he prospers next year and competes for race wins with the team, the impetus to leave RCR will dissipate.

Bianchi also notes that Busch is a key figure on the business side of things for RCR, attracting a number of sponsors and keeping them on board. As long as he isn't actively a liability behind the wheel – and he isn't – he represents a net positive for the organization.

The only wildcard consideration is the future of reigning O'Reilly Series champion Jesse Love. The 21-year-old is one of the brightest talents outside of the Cup Series, and admitted recently that he now feels ready to make the jump from the second tier into the big time in a way that he didn't when he secured championship glory at Phoenix in November.

Love is an RCR driver in the O'Reilly Series, but the team runs just two Cup cars. Since Austin Dillon – Childress' grandson, coming off race wins in back-to-back years – seems unlikely to leave the team, a multi-year Busch extension would effectively box Love out of being promoted to the Cup Series with RCR.

With Busch and Dillon 41 and 36 years old respectively, a succession plan will be necessary at some point. If it isn't Love, it's not clear who would be next in line to step up. Erratic 32-year-old Austin Hill is not an inspiring option.