NASCAR: 3 teams Kyle Busch won’t drive for in 2023
By Asher Fair
Kyle Busch still doesn’t have a contract to compete for Joe Gibbs Racing in the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season. But where won’t he end up?
Before the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season began, longtime primary partner M&M’s announced that it would be their final season sponsoring the #18 Toyota of Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch.
Now here we are, the playoffs are underway, and Busch, who entered the year without a contract to compete in 2023, is still without any plans for beyond 2022.
In fact, a once promising sponsorship development recent fell through, and he has admitted that he has had discussions with other teams. Several teams, including Joe Gibbs Racing, have made him an offer.
But which teams can we all but guarantee he won’t drive for, aside from some of the obvious backmarkers of the sport? Here are three.
Teams Kyle Busch won’t drive for: No. 1 – Team Penske
Austin Cindric, Ryan Blaney, and Joey Logano are all under contract to return to Team Penske in the 2023 season, and all are set to remain with the team beyond that as well.
Roger Penske recently discussed the possibility of Busch joining the team, and he effectively shot it down, noting that the organization is very satisfied with where they are in with their four cars.
This, of course, includes not only the three Team Penske cars but the #21 Ford at the Team Penske-affiliated Wood Brothers Racing. The #21 Ford is driven by for Harrison Burton, who has struggled in his rookie season, but he is expected to be back in 2023.
While Team Penske could technically expand, they have no plans to do so, and since Penske’s comments, both Blaney and Logano have signed long-term extensions.