It could take just one move to overturn the whole of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series lineup and Kyle Busch is the starting point of that move, according to veteran Corey LaJoie .
Busch has extended his contract with Richard Childress Racing until 2026, however the future is not certain as it might appear. He's in the middle of one of the longest winless streaks of his career, almost 70 races, with just two top-five finishes and six top-10s so far in 2025. He's also outside the Playoff picture for this season.
The Next Gen car has been a problem for Busch and he has cited before the lack of practice in NASCAR as contributing to it. RCR says Busch is staying, though, but things could still change. And according to NASCAR veteran Corey LaJoie, it wouldn't take much to cause a major shift in the garage.
"Some big dominoes are going to fall," LaJoie said on Stacking Pennies . "It just takes Kyle Busch leaving, plugging Suárez in."
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Credit: Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
When Busch signed his extension, it quieted the exit rumors, at least temporarily. But as LaJoie pointed out, NASCAR contracts aren't always set in stone. With the right legal moves, Busch could leave before 2026. That would open up the №8 Chevy and Suárez could be first in line for it.
"He hasn't exhibited that speed. But the truth of the matter is he hasn't had the success over the last three or four years that we're accustomed to seeing from Kyle Busch," said NASCAR analyst Jeff Burton, reflecting on Busch's decline amid younger drivers passing him by.
And if that seat opens, Daniel Suárez makes a lot of sense. Even before Busch rumors picked up, Suárez's place at Trackhouse was already looking uncertain. The team confirmed recently that he'll be leaving after 2025.
Why the shift? It likely comes down to 18-year-old Connor Zilisch. He hasn't officially been announced as the next driver of the №99, but he's clearly the favorite. Zilisch already has wins in ARCA, Xfinity, and Truck, and he's gotten Cup experience through Project91.
At 33, Suárez, former Xfinity champ, still has strong ties to Chevrolet and a valuable presence as a bilingual driver with a loyal fanbase. What he wants now is a solid, competitive ride, and Busch leaving could give him just that. And if Busch steps away, Suárez would be a natural fit for Richard Childress Racing .
If Busch stays, Suárez's options may be less ideal. He might have to look at mid-level Cup teams, consider a return to Xfinity, or wait for openings at places like Front Row or 23XI. But none of those routes carries the same upside as a Busch departure.
Everything could hinge on Kyle Busch's next move. If he decides to walk, or RCR decides to cut ties early, it would open the door for Suárez, speed up Trackhouse's youth movement, and kick off a much bigger shift across the Cup Series.
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