NASCAR: Surprise landing spot emerging for Kyle Busch?

We all know the most common teams Kyle Busch has been linked to for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season. Could he end up in a surprise spot?

Kyle Busch’s “announcement” a few Saturdays ago at Daytona International Speedway made one thing clear: there is still nothing to announce at this time regarding his plans for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Busch is in a contract year with Joe Gibbs Racing, and there is no guarantee that he will be back behind the wheel of the #18 Toyota for a 16th consecutive season.

It once seemed as though a contract extension for the 60-time race winner and two-time champion was nothing more than a formality, even with Mars Wrigley having announced late last year that they would not be back with the #18 team in 2023.

But that has proven not to be the case.

With every passing day, it seems increasingly unlikely that the 37-year-old Las Vegas, Nevada native will be back with Joe Gibbs Racing next year, especially since what was once considered a promising sponsorship development recently fell through.

Busch has been linked to a number of teams, and that includes teams aligned with rival manufacturers Ford and Chevrolet — despite the fact that his own team, Kyle Busch Motorsports, is also affiliated with Toyota and therefore a manufacturer switch would be a lot more complicated than it would be for any ordinary driver simply moving to a new organization.

Stewart-Haas Racing emerged as the most likely Ford organization, though those talks have quieted down now that Aric Almirola has pulled a “Tom Brady” and announced that he will be putting off his retirement for at least another two years. This possibility hinges on whether or not the team bring Cole Custer back for a fourth year.

As for Chevrolet, Kaulig Racing continues to be viewed by many as the most likely option, with Richard Childress Racing seen as a dark horse possibility, if not the new favorite, following a few recent developments.

Hendrick Motorsports, the sport’s top Chevrolet team, had also been mentioned, as Busch competed there for three years before moving to Joe Gibbs Racing, but that is seen as somewhat of a pipe dream given the contract situations of their four drivers.

But another option has recently emerged, and it is one which would allow him to stay with Toyota: 23XI Racing.

Both 23XI Racing drivers are under contract for 2023, with Bubba Wallace having recently signed a long-term extension to remain behind the wheel of the #23 Toyota. Kurt Busch’s deal to drive the #45 Toyota also extends through next year.

But Kurt’s situation is one to watch, with him having been sidelined with concussion-like symptoms ever since his qualifying crash at Pocono Raceway back in July. There is still no word on when he will return, as he continues to focus on his recovery.

If Kurt isn’t healthy enough to return, would he make the tough decision to retire and thus ensure that his brother has a Toyota landing spot in 2023?

His decision is not something that can be predicted by anybody, not even his own team — or maybe even himself.

But he has also hinted in the past that he is content with his career, and having had the opportunity to compete for the Denny Hamilin and Michael Jordan-owned 23XI Racing and Toyota this year, that has never before been more accurate.

Even before his crash, he indicated that he would not be competing past 2023, and 23XI Racing have also already signed Richard Childress Racing’s Tyler Reddick for 2024, signaling that Reddick is probably lined up to replace Kurt.

While Hamlin is also reportedly pursuing a third charter, that doesn’t seem to be in the cards for 2023, so Kyle joining the team next year would probably require Kurt to hang it up.

But if a third charter does happen to be acquired for 2023, then it seems fairly obvious that Kyle would get the seat.

Toyota Racing Development president David Wilson has said that he believes Toyota can still keep Busch in the family for 2023 and that they are exploring all possible options of making that happen.

With 23XI Racing being the only Toyota-affiliated Cup Series team aside from Joe Gibbs Racing, that certainly has to be considered one of those options.

It’s an interesting possibility to consider, though you have to wonder how long anybody is willing to wait to make a final decision. Kyle could very well sign elsewhere before Kurt makes his decision, because it he waits too long, any potential opportunities he has now may be taken by somebody else. He has, after all, been told that he needs to be the first “domino” to fall.

But what’s interesting to consider here is that Kyle could technically replace Kurt behind the wheel of the #45 Toyota and then swap seats with Reddick in 2024, meaning that 23XI Racing would only need two charters, all while Richard Childress Racing also remain in the mix.