NASCAR: 3 possible landing spots for Kyle Busch in 2023
By Asher Fair
Kyle Busch landing spots – No. 3 – Stewart-Haas Racing
This is a pretty far-fetched idea when you think about it, but if there is no room at Joe Gibbs Racing and Kyle Busch does want to stick around, perhaps a switch to Stewart-Haas Racing and Ford, his first team/manufacturer switch since leaving Hendrick Motorsports and Chevrolet for Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota after the 2007 season, could be pieced together.
We know for a fact that Stewart-Haas Racing will be altering their driver lineup after the 2022 season, something that they had done for five consecutive offseasons prior to this past one, when they retained all four of their drivers from last year.
Aric Almirola announced before the season began that this will be his fifth and final season for the team as well as his 15th and final season in the Cup Series, leaving the #10 Ford without a confirmed driver for next year.
Additionally, there has been recent speculation that Cole Custer’s future behind the wheel of the #41 Ford could be in jeopardy. He has struggled in the Cup Series, specifically relative to his teammates, and that hasn’t changed much in year number three.
Regardless, we know Tony Stewart isn’t shy about trying to make a huge splash. He publicly stated that he would have tried to sign Kyle Larson, then coming off a suspension, for the 2021 season, but Ford wouldn’t allow him to do so, given the controversy that led to Larson’s suspension.
If Busch becomes a free agent and Stewart-Haas Racing have two — or even one — seat/seats open, how does anybody involved in this decision-making process pass this up?
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One thing is for sure. If Busch ends up competing in 2023 for a team other than Joe Gibbs Racing, he isn’t going to want to run 23rd every week. Stewart-Haas Racing is one of the few safe bets to make sure that doesn’t happen, and they may very well have an opportunity to offer him.