Kyle Busch, piloting the No. 18 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, crossed the finish line eighth at the Go Bowling at The Glen NASCAR Cup Series event on May 10, 2026. The result marked the veteran’s highest placement of the 2026 season and came despite a lingering sinus cold that had plagued him throughout the weekend.
Health concerns surface at Watkins Glen
Midway through stage three, Busch’s radio crackled with an urgent request for Dr. William Heisel to meet him at his bus after the race, a call that hinted at a need for pain relief. The plea quickly became a talking point on social media, fueling speculation about the severity of his condition.
Although the illness forced him to battle through the final stage while holding a top‑five pace, the driver ultimately slipped to eighth in the running order. The performance lifted him to 24th in the championship standings after twelve races, a modest improvement over his previous two seasons in which he missed The Chase.
The eighth‑place finish also coincided with a crew‑chief swap at Richard Childress Racing, where Andy Street replaced Jim Pohlman ahead of the Texas round. A late‑race incident with John Hunter Nemechek in Texas had dropped Busch to 20th before NASCAR ruled no penalty was warranted, citing steering damage telemetry that suggested an accidental contact.
Teammate Austin Dillon also held a top‑five position during the second stage, underscoring a modest uptick in the team’s overall speed. The road‑course layout at Watkins Glen, known for its sustained braking zones and hot cockpits, added an extra layer of physical strain that Busch endured while managing his ailment.
Looking ahead
With his contract year looming, Busch’s performance at Watkins Glen offers a glimpse of potential resurgence, even as the team continues to fine‑tune its setup and address health concerns that have intermittently shadowed his campaign.