Kyle Busch has had a rough time on pit road to start the 2024 season and now there have been changes made on the No. 8 team for Richard Childress Racing.
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FOX Sports' Bob Pockrass reported that the No. 8 team made three changes to its pit crew after the race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Michael Johnson will be the new rear tire changer, Shiloh Windsor will be the new front tire changer and Jack-Doug Warwick will be the new jackman.
Kyle Busch crew changes:
Rear changer: Michael Johnson (and remains 21 NXS) for Chris Jackson (remains 48 NXS)
Front changer-Shiloh Windsor (remains on rear 5 NXS) for Michael Russell (remains on front 5 NXS)
Jack-Doug Warrick (remains 48 NXS) for Garrett Crall (remains 5 NXS)
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) March 7, 2024
Busch has received four pit road penalties in the first three races of the year. The penalties were not as much of a detriment at Daytona or Atlanta Motor Speedway as they were at Las Vegas. At Las Vegas, Busch received a penalty for pitting outside the pit box. This is an error on both the driver and the team. His car was too far forward, and the pit crew did not signal for him to back up. This led to a drive through penalty under green flag conditions - a penalty that was too costly for Busch to make up for as he finished the race 26th after running in the top 5 for the majority of the race.
Not only have the penalties been costly, but Busch is not gaining spots on pit road. The team simply has not been getting the job done. Struggles during the Daytona 500 had car owner Richard Childress cussing the team out on the radio.
"You two guys, get your heads out of your ass. No more f&*^ing up." Childress said on the No. 8 team radio at Daytona.
At Atlanta, Busch was forced to go to the rear of the field after having a loose wheel under caution. Then, this past weekend the team had the fourth slowest median ranked 4 tire pit stop time at 11.49 seconds.
We will see if the changes help Busch and the No. 8 team stay up front as the NASCAR Cup Series heads to Phoenix Raceway for the Shriners Children's 500 on Sunday at 3:30p.m. EST.
