NASCAR: 5 drivers who could join Joe Gibbs Racing in 2023
By Asher Fair
Drivers who could join Joe Gibbs Racing: No. 4 – Bubba Wallace
When Kyle Busch officially “retired” from NASCAR Xfinity Series competition following the 2021 season, Bubba Wallace was viewed by many as a potential replacement in Joe Gibbs Racing’s “star car” for 2022.
Wallace, who reunited with Toyota when he joined Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing from Richard Petty Motorsports ahead of the 2021 season, had just made his first Xfinity Series start since 2017 with Hattori Racing Enterprises at Michigan International Speedway, and Busch’s absence meant that the “star car” would have five additional openings during the 2022 season.
Busch had competed in as many Xfinity Series races as he was allowed to compete, per NASCAR rules, for many years. He had long vowed to stop after reaching 100 wins. He entered the 2021 season with 97 and won five times in five starts.
Wallace did end up getting the opportunity to drive the No. 18 Toyota in select races during the 2022 season, reuniting him with the team he had driven for in select races during the 2012 and 2014 seasons, but only twice.
He competed in the road course races at Circuit of the Americas and at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Could a similar or perhaps expanded deal be in the cards for the 2023 season?