Kyle Busch is set to join Richard Childress Racing for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season. But which car will he be driving next year?
After months of speculation, Richard Childress Racing emerged as the favorite to sign two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch away from Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota for the 2023 season, and it was revealed over the weekend that they are indeed set to land his services for next year.
The official announcement is set to be made at 10:00 a.m. ET on Tuesday morning.
But Richard Childress Racing already have two drivers under contract for next year, Austin Dillon behind the wheel of the #3 Chevrolet and Tyler Reddick behind the wheel of the #8 Chevrolet. So where does the two-time champion fit into the equation?
Here are three possible landing spots for Busch in 2023.
Kyle Busch 2023 landing spots: No. 1 – #8 Chevrolet
Tyler Reddick has already signed with 23XI Racing for the 2024 season, and while Richard Childress Racing have reiterated that he is under contract with their organization through 2023 after picking up an option over the summer, it’s no secret that there has been a bitter feeling there following Reddick’s new team announcement.
There has always been the belief that the two sides could find some way to cut ties a year early, and the fact that Richard Childress Racing went out and signed Busch for 2023 could very well be proof of that.
Reddick could potentially move to a Richard Childress Racing-affiliated team for somewhat of a “lame duck” year, or he could move to 23XI Racing and Toyota a year early, depending on whether they land another charter and/or what happens with Kurt Busch’s health.
Heck, he could even move to Busch’s #18 Toyota for a year, which would give Ty Gibbs another season in the Xfinity Series while also guaranteeing his own Cup seat for 2024 with Reddick then set for his 23XI Racing ride. He could also move to a third Richard Childress Racing car, presumably a non-chartered entry, since the team know his long-term future isn’t with them.
But what happens to Busch if Reddick does indeed stay behind the wheel of the #8 Chevrolet for the remainder of his contract?
Kyle Busch 2023 landing spots: No. 2 – #3 Chevrolet
This option is seen as far less likely, but there are a few reasons why it might make sense. Austin Dillon is effectively a Richard Childress Racing driver for as long as he wants to be.
He is the grandson of team owner Richard Childress and brings significant sponsorship to the table for the #3 team, and he knows how to win when it counts, winning his way into the playoffs from outside the top 16 in points four times in the last six years. No other driver has done that more than once during that span.
But days before the report came out that Kyle Busch would be signing with Richard Childress Racing for 2023, Justin Alexander announced that he would be stepping down from his role as crew chief for Dillon’s #3 team at the end of the year, citing a desire to focus on his family and personal life. He was Dillon’s crew chief for all four of his wins.
Could Dillon, who has garnered publicity for himself with his new Austin Dillon’s Life in the Fast Lane reality TV, show opt to step away for a similar reason?
There’s another possibility to consider: could Childress ask him to step aside for just one season (or put him in a seat with a Richard Childress Racing-affiliated team such as Kaulig Racing or even Spire Motorsports for a year), with Reddick on his way to 23XI Racing at the end of the 2023 season anyway?
Now, would his own grandfather really “bench” him for a driver he (Childress) once assaulted? When you put it like that, no.
But if you’d have asked a similar question — would Childress sign a driver he once assaulted? — a few months ago, you’d have gotten the same answer.
We saw how that worked out.
Kyle Busch 2023 landing spots: No. 3 – #33 Chevrolet (third car)
An expansion to three cars isn’t out of the question for Richard Childress Racing, and there are several reasons why the move would make sense as they bring on Kyle Busch for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season.
First of all, as stated previously, both Tyler Reddick and Austin Dillon are under contract with the team through next year, so benching or releasing either of them would take several extra steps.
Secondly, Richard Childress Racing have fielded three cars in select races before, most recently doing so at Michigan International Speedway when Xfinity Series driver Austin Hill (pictured) piloted the #33 Chevrolet in his Cup Series debut.
Thirdly, they wouldn’t necessarily need a charter for the third entry, and that itself is the case for a number of reasons.
Number one, while having a charter has numerous advantages, there is little to no chance of a third Richard Childress Racing entry missing a race (for one, most races only feature the 36 chartered entries).
And number two, they wouldn’t need the third entry for more than one season, with Reddick set to join 23XI Racing for 2024 anyway. Why invest all that money in a charter just for nine months?
We have seen teams run full-time, non-chartered entries before, and that is certainly an option for Richard Childress Racing next year.
But if they do expand for a season, would the third car, whether it’s the #33 Chevrolet or another number, be run by Busch or by Reddick?
Which car will Kyle Busch drive in the 2023 season? Will he replace either one of Richard Childress Racing’s current two drivers, or will he simply be added to their lineup?