NASCAR: 3 possible landing spots for Kurt Busch in 2022

Speculation is heating up about the future of Kurt Busch in the NASCAR Cup Series. Where will he end up in the 2022 season?

Kurt Busch is in a contract year with Chip Ganassi Racing as the driver of the #1 Chevrolet after signing a two-year extension at the end of his first season with the team back in 2019, and he does not currently have anything solidified for the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season.

There have been several rumors about Busch’s future in recent weeks, especially after it was announced that Chip Ganassi Racing will be acquired by Trackhouse Racing Team after the 2021 season, and he recently confirmed that he has multiple options available.

So where will he end up in 2022? Here are three possible landing spots.

Possible Kurt Busch landing spots for 2022: No. 1 – 23XI Racing

One landing spot that has emerged for Busch in 2022 is 23XI Racing, which are in their first season of Cup Series competition. The Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan co-owned team currently only field one entry, the #23 Toyota for Bubba Wallace, but Hamlin has said, even before the 2021 season began, that he wants the team to expand as soon as possible.

Hamlin said that he wants to either sign an experienced veteran driver for a potential second car or a young Toyota Racing Development driver. Given the team’s overall growing pains and Wallace’s struggles so far this season, an experienced veteran looks like the better bet, and with Busch without a contract for 2022, this would make a ton of sense.

Whether or not a second charter can be secured by the team for 2022 remains to be seen, but if so, don’t be surprised if Busch teams up with Wallace in a second Toyota entry for Hamlin and Jordan at the Joe Gibbs Racing-affiliated operation. He is believed to be the team’s top option if they do end up expanding.