NASCAR: Kurt Busch out at Chip Ganassi Racing after 2021?
By Randy Smith
2004 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kurt Busch has not confirmed his plans for the 2022 season, but he seems to have options already.
Kurt Busch is no stranger to carrying his business in his own way, and that has been no different during the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season. Busch, who is in a contract year with Chip Ganassi Racing, has yet to say where or for whom he might be racing next year.
Right before the 2021 season started, Busch released a video through primary sponsor Monster Energy titled “Shifting Gears”, which many viewed as a retirement announcement.
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Former NASCAR driver Michael Waltrip even reported Busch’s retirement (for the sake of the video), and just after winning his fourth Super Bowl title, Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski made a cameo, urging Busch to follow his lead and not retire.
But even if he leaves Chip Ganassi Racing, Busch could still be far from retirement.
According to The Athletic‘s Jordan Bianchi, 23XI Racing are looking at expanding to a two-car team next season, confirming what team co-owner Denny Hamlin said earlier this year, and Busch is the “top candidate” to fill the second seat alongside Bubba Wallace.
News: Kurt Busch is the top candidate to drive a second car at expanding 23XI Racing in 2022, per sourceshttps://t.co/wFZJDtjKbm
— Jordan Bianchi (@Jordan_Bianchi) May 29, 2021
The 42-year-old Las Vegas, Nevada native, who has said that he would love the opportunity to drive the Next Gen car, would provide a solid veteran presence for the Toyota team co-owned by the Joe Gibbs Racing driver and NBA legend Michael Jordan.
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That veteran presence would greatly help Wallace and the #23 team, as Wallace currently stands in 22nd place in the point standings, and the report notes that he would stay in the #23 Toyota next year.
Wallace has had an up and down year through the first 15 races. He earned his first career stage win at Talladega Superspeedway in April, but he has yet to secure a top 10 finish this year. With Richard Petty Motorsports, he had two top 10 finishes by this point last season.
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While having a former champion as a teammate and a quasi mentor to Wallace is a plus in itself, Busch could also bring sponsorship to 23XI Racing, having had an established partnership with Monster Energy for several years. The former Cup Series title sponsor has sponsored Busch since his Stewart-Haas Racing days.