NASCAR: 5 possible replacements for Kyle Busch

Kyle Busch replacements: No. 5 – Fellow veterans

While Kyle Busch won’t be back for another season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, neither one of his two veteran Joe Gibbs Racing Cup Series teammates, Martin Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin, have ruled out a return.

Neither one of these two have done nearly what Busch has done in the Xfinity Series over the years, though that doesn’t mean they won’t fill in from time to time in 2022 — and perhaps beyond.

If 2021 is any indication, they could both get more seat time moving forward. Truex, who also made his first Truck Series start since 2006 on dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway, made his first Xfinity Series start since 2010 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and he recorded a second place finish. Will we see him get his first win since 2006 when he won at Talladega Superspeedway?

As for Hamlin, he hasn’t competed in more than one race in an Xfinity Series season since 2017 when he competed in four, but he has quietly made at least one start in the series in each of the last 18 years.

Despite taking on a new Cup Series ownership role with 23XI Racing last year, he still managed to make his annual start at Darlington Raceway, the only track where he has competed over the last four years. Will he earn his first win since he won there in 2017?

So who will see increased time behind the wheel of Joe Gibbs Racing’s “star car” now that Kyle Busch is done competing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series? Will some of the younger Cup Series drivers get the opportunity? Will some of the up-and-coming stars get seat time? Will Martin Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin start moonlighting like Busch?