NASCAR’s top free agent is finally off the market
By Asher Fair
Kyle Busch has finally found a new home for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season, leaving a number of teams without a driver they had pursued.
Admitting that he had been offered contracts by multiple teams to compete in the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series, two-time champion Kyle Busch knew that there was only going to be one “winner” and several losers.
There were several teams that had, at some point, been considered the “favorite” to land Busch’s services for next year throughout this monthslong process.
The winner was Richard Childress Racing.
After 15 seasons with Joe Gibbs Racing, Busch is set to vacate the #18 Toyota and reunite with Chevrolet behind the wheel of the #8 car next year.
Other teams that had been mentioned as possibilities to land Busch for 2023 were, of course, Joe Gibbs Racing, as well as Toyota’s 23XI Racing, Chevrolet’s Kaulig Racing, and Ford’s Stewart-Haas Racing.
Given how a once promising sponsorship development fell through in Joe Gibbs Racing’s quest to replace M&M’s, one which presumably would have kept Busch behind the wheel of the #18 Toyota for at least another year, the possibility of Busch leaving Joe Gibbs Racing at the end of the 2022 season became one that needed to be acknowledged.
As more time passed — months upon months — with nothing announced, it became less and less likely that he would be back next year, and now he officially won’t be. Joe Gibbs Racing Xfinity Series driver Ty Gibbs is seen as his likely replacement.
As for 23XI Racing, this possibility, which would have kept Busch with Toyota and made the Kyle Busch Motorsports aspect of the deal much less of a hassle, likely hinged on the health of brother Kurt Busch, who has been sidelined with concussion-like symptoms since his qualifying crash at Pocono Raceway back in July.
Kurt is under contract through 2023 and is still striving to return, so for 23XI Racing to commit to an early replacement was always a bit of a stretch, especially since they have been transparent about honoring Kurt’s decisions.
As for Kaulig Racing, this was seen as somewhat of a dark horse option, even if it did emerge as the “favorite” at one point.
When they confirmed that they would be making a driver announcement on Wednesday, October 5, however, it became clear that Busch wouldn’t be the subject of that announcement, given the fact that he was told by multiple teams that he needed to be the first “domino” to fall.
Then there is Stewart-Haas Racing, which were once “confirmed” to have an open seat for 2023 with Aric Almirola retiring. But Almirola changed his mind and is instead set to return to the #10 Ford next year.
The only way Busch could’ve landed a ride here was if the team opted to replace Cole Custer behind the wheel of the #41 Ford.
Replacing Custer technically still exists as a possibility, but the opportunity for Tony Stewart to take a big swing, as he has done multiple times in the past, is likely gone.
Next. Dark horse replacement for Kyle Busch?. dark
Regardless, all these other teams in need of or possibly seeking new drivers will now have to look elsewhere, as Busch is officially committed to Richard Childress Racing for the foreseeable future.