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2h ago

Trackhouse Hires Randall Burnett to Lead Connor Zilisch’s 2026 Cup Rookie Season

Richard Childress Racing has not named a new crew chief for Kyle Busch’s No. 8 team.

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#8: Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing, Lucas Oil Chevrolet, #8: Randall Burnett, Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet

Overview

  • Trackhouse confirmed Randall Burnett will become Connor Zilisch’s Cup Series crew chief starting in 2026.
  • Burnett departs RCR after guiding the No. 8 since 2020 with multiple Cup wins alongside Tyler Reddick and Kyle Busch, plus a 2019 Xfinity title with Reddick.
  • Zilisch, 19, earns the promotion after a standout 2025 Xfinity campaign with nine victories and an extended run of top-five finishes for JR Motorsports.
  • The rookie will replace Daniel Suárez at Trackhouse and join Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen, having already logged three Cup starts with a best finish of 11th at Atlanta.
  • RCR has yet to announce Burnett’s successor, and recent struggles for the Busch–Burnett pairing have fueled questions for the No. 8 team as analysts view the Trackhouse move as a potential boost for Zilisch.