NASCAR: Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson to challenge Kyle Busch

Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson are both set to challenge Kyle Busch in the NASCAR Truck Series for a chance to win $100,000.

Per the increasingly strict regulations on NASCAR Cup Series drivers with five or more seasons of full-time competition at NASCAR‘s highest level, Kyle Busch Motorsports Truck Series team owner Kyle Busch is only allowed to compete in five Truck Series races per season.

Last year, the full-time Joe Gibbs Racing Cup Series driver won all five of his Truck Series starts. Unsurprisingly, he dominated his first start of the 2020 season  behind the wheel of the #51 Toyota at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last Friday night.

He has now won a career-high seven consecutive Truck Series races going back to the July race at Pocono Raceway in the 2018 season. He last failed to win a race at NASCAR’s third highest level in May of 2018 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, when he finished in second place.

More from Camping World Truck Series

• NASCAR: New team confirmed for Kyle Busch for 2024
• NASCAR: Replacement confirmed for driver released before Talladega
• NASCAR team releases driver with three races left
• NASCAR Truck Series: Spencer Boyd speaks on Montucky, Bristol tradition
• NASCAR title-winning team shutting down after 2023

As a result of his dominance, fellow full-time Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick placed a $50,000 bounty on Busch for any full-time Cup Series driver who could beat him in any of his remaining four starts this season.

Marcus Lemonis, the CEO of Truck Series title sponsor Gander Outdoors, added $50,000 to that bounty.

Busch is set to compete in the third, fourth, fifth and ninth races of the season in the upcoming weeks and months. Those races are scheduled to take place on Saturday, March 14, Friday, March 20, Friday, March 27 and Saturday, May 30 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway, respectively.

There are already two takers for a total of three of those events.

Chase Elliott, who competes full-time in the Cup Series for Hendrick Motorsports, is set to drive for GMS Racing in the races at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway. He is slated to be sponsored by Hooters for the former.

Kyle Larson, who competes full-time in the Cup Series for Chip Ganassi Racing, is set to drive for GMS Racing as well in the race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

If nobody can beat Busch, this $100,000 will go to the Samantha and Kyle Busch Bundle of Joy Fund, an organization that helps couples who require fertility treatments to conceive.

GMS Racing are considered one of the best teams in the Truck Series. They run four full-time entries for Sheldon Creed, rookie Zane Smith, 2018 champion Brett Moffitt and 2019 Rookie of the Year Tyler Ankrum.

Elliott and Larson are both set to pilot the #24 Chevrolet, which is set to be shared by Sam Mayer and David Gravel in 11 other races throughout the 23-race season. Both drivers have previously made two starts and won one race for GMS Racing. Neither driver has competed in the series since winning for the team.

Elliott has competed in 12 Truck Series races, last competing at Martinsville Speedway in April of 2017. He won that race, and he also won at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in September of 2013. His average finish is 7.92 with eight top five finishes.

Larson has competed in 13 Truck Series races, last competing at Eldora Speedway in July of 2016. He won that race, and he also won at Rockingham Speedway back in April of 2013. His average finish is 8.77 with seven top four finishes.

Here is what Elliott had to say in a press release.

"“Once the word got out about the challenge, we were able to put this together with Mike Beam at GMS in just a couple of days. Atlanta is one of my favorite tracks, so I’m really looking forward to getting back into a GMS truck there with Hooters on the truck and make a run for a win.”"

Here is what Larson had to say in a press release.

"“When I heard about the $100,000 bounty I wanted in! I’m thankful for GMS and Chevy giving me this opportunity, Homestead is one of my favorite tracks so looking for to the challenge!”"

Here is what GMS Racing president Mike Beam had to add in a press release.

"“We are blessed with this opportunity. To have an owner that is up for the challenge and a manufacturer that will support the extra effort necessary is really special. It’s great to have these two talented young men back behind the wheel for us and to have the extra attention on the Truck series is great.”"

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin hinted that he would like to be a part of this challenge as well, but Kyle Busch Motorsports, the series’ only multi-truck Toyota team, wouldn’t accept the money.