NASCAR: 23XI Racing have added the missing piece
By Randy Smith
The 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season is set to see Kurt Busch in a new ride with 23XI Racing, but there was one missing detail the team still had to secure.
In one of the bigger stories throughout this year’s NASCAR silly season, Kurt Busch signed with 23XI Racing to join Bubba Wallace starting in the 2022 Cup Series season. The Las Vegas, Nevada native is set to become Wallace’s first teammate since 23XI Racing’s inception ahead of the 2021 season.
23XI Racing announced that Monster Energy will serve as the primary sponsor for Busch, and Busch is set to drive the #45 Toyota. Number 45 is the other jersey number worn by team co-owner and NBA legend Michael Jordan throughout his career, aside from the iconic number 23.
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This also marks Busch’s first Cup Series ride with Toyota in what is set to be his 23rd season and 22nd of full-time competition. This will make him the only active driver to drive for all three of the current Cup Series manufacturers.
He also drove for Dodge when he competed for Team Penske.
The car, number and manufacturer were all set with the big announcement. However, there was still one key detail missing.
It was unknown for quite some time after the announcement how, exactly, 23XI Racing were going to field this new car for Busch, and questions arose surrounding the potential acquisition of a charter.
Recently, those questions have been answered.
According to The Athletic’s Jordan Bianchi, team co-owner and current Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin confirmed that the team have now acquired a charter for Busch’s #45 Toyota.
Denny Hamlin told the media today that both a charter for the No. 45 23XI Racing team and a crew chief for Kurt Busch are set. No further details shared.
— Jordan Bianchi (@Jordan_Bianchi) October 3, 2021
Nothing has been confirmed yet as to which team sold them the charter, but the rumored seller has long been Front Row Motorsports.
If this is indeed the case, the charter sold would likely be the one currently used to field the #38 Ford for rookie Anthony Alfredo, as Front Row Motorsports would ideally like to keep veteran and 2021 Daytona 500 winner Michael McDowell on track behind the wheel of the #34 Ford for 2022.
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Obtaining a charter was key for Busch and 23XI Racing to make sure that the 43-year-old would be guaranteed a spot in each of the 36 races on next year’s calendar. Now they have obtained that, and he is officially set to debut the #45 Toyota at the start of the 2022 season in February.