NASCAR: Joe Gibbs Racing have lost another driver for 2023

Brandon Jones is set to leave Joe Gibbs Racing and join JR Motorsports for the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, replacing Noah Gragson.

Back in July, Petty GMS Motorsports confirmed that Ty Dillon would not be returning to the #42 Chevrolet for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season, and Noah Gragson emerged as the favorite to replace him.

Then last month, the long-rumored announcement was made, confirming that Gragson is set to leave the JR Motorsports Xfinity Series team after four years behind the wheel of the #9 Chevrolet and join the Cup Series full-time.

In addition to his full-time Xfinity Series role, Gragson currently competes in the Cup Series, but only on a part-time basis for Beard Motorsports and Kaulig Racing.

Gragson’s impending departure left JR Motorsports needing a new driver of the #9 Chevrolet for the first time since Tyler Reddick left for Richard Childress Racing after winning the 2018 championship.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. hinted multiple times that an announcement was close, and that announcement was made Wednesday.

Brandon Jones is set to replace Gragson behind the wheel of the #9 Chevrolet after spending the last five seasons with Joe Gibbs Racing.

Jones is a five-time Xfinity Series race winner who has qualified for the playoffs in each of his five seasons behind the wheel of the #19 Toyota.

JR Motorsports had already confirmed that Sam Mayer is set to return for another year behind the wheel of the #1 Chevrolet in 2023, and there is little reason to expect any other changes in the team’s driver lineup, with Justin Allgaier behind the wheel of the #7 Chevrolet and Josh Berry behind the wheel of the #8 Chevrolet.

As for Joe Gibbs Racing, uncertainty abounds.

Kyle Busch announced on Tuesday that he will be leaving Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota, ending a 15-year relationship, to reunite with Chevrolet and drive for Richard Childress Racing next year.

Ty Gibbs, who competes full-time for his grandfather’s Xfinity Series team, is seen as the likely replacement for the two-time Cup Series champion behind the wheel of the #18 Toyota.

There were already discussions about who might replace Gibbs in the team’s Xfinity Series lineup. Now they have another driver to worry about replacing, and one who brought substantial financial backing.

Gibbs and Jones are the team’s only two full-time Xfinity Series drivers this year, as the organization downsized from four cars to three following the 2021 season. The third car remains designated as the rotational “star car”.

While Gibbs is staying in-house one way or another, the loss of Jones to Chevrolet just one day after losing Busch has set up an interesting situation for Joe Gibbs Racing, which, along with Toyota, have let a number of talented NASCAR drivers walk over the last few years.