NASCAR: 3 possible landing spots for Ty Gibbs in 2023
By Asher Fair
Ty Gibbs 2023 landing spots: No. 2 – Joe Gibbs Racing (#18 Toyota)
Kyle Busch’s comments at Talladega Superspeedway about the uncertainty surrounding his contract status with Joe Gibbs Racing have led to some interesting speculation about his future — or lack thereof — in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Busch most recently signed a contract extension toward the beginning of the 2019 season, and that new deal tied the 37-year-old Las Vegas, Nevada native to the #18 Toyota through 2022.
But before the 2022 season started, longtime sponsor M&M’s announced that they would not be back with the #18 Toyota for another season.
Busch indicated that the lack of sponsorship for the 2023 season is what is keeping him and the team from finalizing a new deal, and he revealed that “goodbye” could truly be an option.
And if Busch does not return for what would be a 16th season with Joe Gibbs Racing next year, Gibbs would make complete sense as his replacement.
He has shown his potential in the Xfinity Series and demonstrated that he has the talent to compete at the sport’s top level, and it’s no secret that a promotion is the goal.
While the 2022 season is only his first full season in the Xfinity Series and Joe Gibbs Racing would ideally like for him to run two before moving to the Cup Series, he did compete in more than half of the races on the 2021 schedule. Would that suffice in the event that Busch ends up losing his ride?