NASCAR: 5 driver moves we want to see for 2023
By Asher Fair
NASCAR Cup Series silly season is far from over, despite a few recent announcements. What moves do we want to see for 2023?
Despite several recent NASCAR Cup Series contract announcements, there are still several teams with seats open for the 2023 season, and there are several notable drivers who do not yet have contracts to compete next year.
Here are five moves we want to see for 2023.
NASCAR driver moves we want to see: No. 1 – Kyle Busch re-signs
The fact that we are still having this conversation is insane and just goes to show how much sponsorship really matters in racing. The winningest active Cup Series driver (tied) and only active two-time champion is still without a deal to return to Joe Gibbs Racing for what would be a 16th season behind the wheel of the #18 Toyota in 2023.
After the 2021 season ended, longtime partner Mars Wrigley announced that the 2022 season would be their last with the #18 team.
When Kyle Busch made his cryptic comments about his contract situation with Joe Gibbs Racing at Talladega Superspeedway back in April, many chalked it up to Kyle Busch being Kyle Busch.
Reality has since struck.
A once promising sponsorship development ended with a deal falling through, and as time goes on, it looks increasingly unlikely that Busch will be back with Joe Gibbs Racing next year, even as Toyota reportedly explore every possible avenue to retain him.
Is Busch being out of a ride for no other reason than lack of sponsorship really what anybody wants to see?
Plus, while he did get to make his Cup Series debut at 23XI Racing as Kurt Busch’s replacement, we know that Joe Gibbs wants grandson Ty, the driver most often linked to the #18 Toyota if a replacement is needed for Kyle, to run two full Xfinity Series seasons first before a Cup Series promotion.
He did run 18 of the 33 races on last year’s schedule, but the 19-year-old Charlotte, North Carolina native is still technically in year one, so this move would involve his return to the #54 Toyota in 2023 as well.