NASCAR: The other confirmation from the Kurt Busch news
By Asher Fair
Along with the confirmation of Kurt Busch for the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season, the 23XI Racing announcement revealed something else for next year.
23XI Racing confirmed Friday what many had long expected: Kurt Busch is set to drive a second Toyota for the team in the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season alongside Bubba Wallace.
With primary sponsorship from Monster Energy, the current Chip Ganassi Racing driver is set to pilot the #45 Toyota in what is slated to be his 23rd season in the Cup Series and 22nd season as a full-time driver.
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The 43-year-old Las Vegas, Nevada native has competed in 745 Cup Series races throughout his 22-year career thus far. That number is set to be 756 by the end of thee 2021 season. Not one of those starts has been in a Toyota, but that is obviously now slated to change in 2022.
But this wasn’t the only news confirmed with 23XI Racing’s announcement on Friday evening.
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NASCAR has long discussed moving the numbers on the sides of the cars to make room for additional sponsorship. A test was run in last year’s All-Star Race at Bristol Motor Speedway that saw the numbers moved back.
Now a change will become permanent in what is slated to be the first season for the Next Gen car next year. But instead of a move back, the numbers are set to be moved closer to the front.
Take a look below at the video that ultimately served as the segue into the confirmation of this change for 2022.
We got our guy.
— 23XI Racing (@23XIRacing) August 27, 2021
Welcome to the family, @KurtBusch ✊ pic.twitter.com/COXghtHb1d
23XI Racing added more tweets further illustrating the change.
Kurt Busch, NASCAR Champion, Driver of the #45 Monster Energy TRD Camry.
— 23XI Racing (@23XIRacing) August 27, 2021
The Introduction: pic.twitter.com/2pfxSVhYh9
https://twitter.com/23XIRacing/status/1431422557668925440
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Busch is currently in his third season with Chip Ganassi Racing, and he won the race at Atlanta Motor Speedway in July to secure his ninth straight playoff berth, a streak which is tied for the second longest streak among active drivers. His win last month made the 2021 season his eighth consecutive winning season.