Kyle Busch joining Richard Childress Racing for the 2023 NASCAR Cup series could haunt his former team Joe Gibbs Racing
Kyle Busch was the reason for one of NASCAR’s biggest silly season titles in 2022. The longtime Joe Gibbs Racing driver has been making waves in the sport after leaving the team led by coach Gibbs to move to Richard Childress Racing for the 2023 Cup Series season.
After driving for the Toyota-backed JGR team for more than 15 years, which lasted 53 wins for the Las Vegas, Nevada native as well as two championships, Busch and JGR have decided to part ways as their long-standing relationship was going through a tough time that neither of them expected to last as long as it did. In a rather public break with his former team, both “Rowdy Busch”, as his fans like to call him, and JGR have often been seen to have fallen somewhat in love with each other, mainly because of sponsorship issues for the #18 Toyota Camry TRD driver’s future.
The fallout began following the withdrawal of M&M’s, a popular confectionery brand, and main sponsor Kyle Busch. Due to Busch’s perceived nature on and off the track, it was difficult to bring in another sponsor for the driver, according to reports.
2010-2019
Championships: Jimmie Johnson – 3
Wins: Kyle Busch – 40
T5: Kevin Harvick – 145
T10: Kevin Harvick – 233
Leader: Kyle Busch – 13,031
Posts: Kyle Busch – 27
Head circumference: Kevin Harvick – 300
2010-2019 Championships: Jimmie Johnson – 3 wins: Kyle Busch – 40T5: Kevin Harvick – 145T10: Kevin Harvick – 233 Leader: Kyle Busch – 13,031 Polish: Kyle Busch – 27 First round: Kevin Harvick – 300 https://t .co/BUbcthRvAc
Moving to Richard Childress Racing for the 2023 season, Kyle Busch finds himself outside his comfort zone in the sport, with the grandson of Coach Gibbs and 2022 Xfinity Champion Ty Gibbs replacing him at JGR. With both his old and new team performing in the 2022 season, it looks like Busch is in a position to earn more than his old team in 2023.
How can Kyle Busch haunt his former team in the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season?
With Ty Gibbs replacing an injured Kurt Busch in the 2022 season, future driver Joe Gibbs Racing has 15 more races to build on his experience in the sport in 2023. With him finishing averaging 22.9 in those 15 appearances, Gibbs will be on a steep learning curve despite his early start. Coupled with the team’s lack of extraordinary performances over the past two years, this could spell trouble for JGR in 2023.
Ty Gibbs is undoubtedly a good racing driver, but he could have a bit of a humbling experience in the cup series. The average finish so far is 23.2 (not bad all things considered), but let’s not forget that success in the Xfinity Series doesn’t always continue.
Ty Gibbs is undoubtedly a good racing driver, but he could have a bit of a humbling experience in the cup series. The average finish so far is 23.2 (not bad all things considered), but let’s not forget that success in the Xfinity Series doesn’t always continue. https://t.co/Ukl1lC5zxI
Richard Childress Racing, meanwhile, is on an upward trajectory after trailing the top teams in the sport for a few seasons with 4 wins last year. Coupled with a fiery natural talent like Kyle Busch, RCR could be onto something in 2023.
It remains to be seen how well Kyle Busch, 37, will adapt to a new environment in the sport this year. One thing is for sure, fans will be thrilled if he manages to get on a new Chevrolet race car, battling his old team in typical Kyle Busch fashion.
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