NASCAR: Kyle Busch’s underrated option for 2023

Kaulig Racing have been floated as a potential landing spot for Kyle Busch in the NASCAR Cup Series next year, a move that could be good for both sides.

As more drivers sign contracts for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season, Kyle Busch remains unsigned, making him by far the most notable free agent remaining.

The possibility of Busch re-signing with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) still exists, despite both the emergence of JGR Xfinity Series driver Ty Gibbs and the #18 Toyota losing primary sponsor Mars Wrigley after the 2022 season.

But with time continuing to pass, options outside of JGR are coming to light. The Athletic’s Jordan Bianchi reported in a recent article that Stewart-Haas Racing and Kaulig Racing are two of the most likely landing spots for Busch outside of JGR.

Kaulig Racing are in their first season of fielding full-time teams in the Cup Series, using charters they acquired from Spire Motorsports. Justin Haley drives the #31 Chevrolet in every race, while three drivers share a full-time #16 Chevrolet entry.

They have a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing, using ECR engines, and were already able to reach victory lane as a part-time organization last season, when A.J. Allmendinger won a wild race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.

Busch has accomplished just about everything in the world of NASCAR, so Kaulig Racing would be an interesting path for him.

The Las Vegas, Nevada native has 60 wins and two championships in the Cup Series while boasting the most wins in series history in both the Xfinity Series and Truck Series with 102 and 62, respectively. Just about the only thing he doesn’t have is a Daytona 500 victory.

Busch has proven that he is one of the sport’s greatest drivers of all-time, so how about proving that he can compete for a championship with a newer team?

Kaulig Racing have shown signs of speed early, and with respectable results. While Haley has just two top 10 finishes through 23 races, his average finish of 18.5 and current points position of 22nd are not bad for a new team.

Kaulig Racing also have a track record of quickly finding success in a new series. The team debuted in the Xfinity Series in 2016 and reached the playoffs in their first season. They visited victory lane in their fourth season and sent a car to the Championship 4 the following year.

The organization can be a wild card, which gives Busch something to work with if he decides to try a new challenge. He has experience starting something new with his Truck Series team Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM), but he has only ever driven for an established team in the Cup Series.

We’ve seen veteran drivers be able to use their experience to provide better feedback to smaller teams, helping those teams be more competitive sooner. We’ve also seen talented drivers be able to overperform in ill-handling cars.

Teaming up with Kaulig Racing would provide Busch with the opportunity to show what impact he can make on the organization. Why not add “significant contributor in turning a newer team into a championship threat” to your list of career achievements if you’re Busch?

Both Busch and Matt Kaulig are personalities who expect to win, so there’s no telling what they could do if paired together.

The move would also provide added perks for both sides, as Busch’s star status would likely give Kaulig Racing more attention. In addition, being a star on a smaller team would surely make Busch the top driver, instead of having to compete with others for that designation.

One potential conflict for Kyle Busch joining Kaulig Racing is the manufacturer, as KBM run Toyotas while Kaulig Racing run Chevrolets.

Switching manufacturers would not be anything new for Busch, who made the jump from Chevrolet to Toyota when he left Hendrick Motorsports for JGR in 2008. He even ran a Ford early in his Truck Series career.

However, Busch has since started his own Truck Series team, which have run Toyotas since their inception in 2010. Most of his success has come with the brand, building a relationship with Toyota that would likely be difficult to leave.

While it’s possible that Busch could drive a Chevrolet for Kaulig Racing while continuing to field Toyotas for KBM, perhaps his Truck Series team can be part of the equation.

ThorSport Racing have switched manufacturers three times over the span of a decade, currently fielding Toyotas. That shows that such changes are very doable, and the number of Toyota teams currently in the series means that a switch by KBM wouldn’t leave the brand empty-handed.

If KBM switches to Chevrolet in this scenario, they could become a feeder team for Kaulig Racing, helping strengthen the team’s future driver development, all while increasing Busch’s impact on the organization.

As Kyle Busch remains a free agent for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season, joining Kaulig Racing is an underrated option that could turn out to be a really good fit for both sides.