Still No Word For Kyle Busch, Where Could He Go?

Article and Image By: Tom Luttermoser          Image: Kyle Busch being taken to the infield care center at Michigan International Speedway 8/7/22

Kyle Busch has been in the NASCAR Cup Series full-time since 2005 with Hendrick Motorsports in the #5 Kellogg's Chevrolet. Since 2008, Kyle has grown to dominate the sport, racing for (at the time) the new Toyota powerhouse at Joe Gibbs Racing and has been the top driver for that team ever since. Now that may be coming to an end with the departure of his full-time main sponsor, Mars Candy. Mars has supported Kyle and the 18 team since 2008 and announced earlier this season that 2022 would be the end of their sponsorship in NASCAR leaving a gaping hole in the funding of Kyle (who is the highest paid active driver in the sport) and the 18 team. Both JGR and Busch have made it very clear that they have not found a sponsor and that it could very easily lead to Kyle leaving the 18 Toyota. 

Kyle Busch has stated publicly that other teams have shown interest in signing him if he does not return to Joe Gibbs Racing. It has been nearly half a season and the winningest driver in the history of the sport and the man who is now tied for 9th all time Cup wins at 60 does not have a contract for 2023. It is no secret that the only active 2 time Cup Champion demands a massive salary, and rightfully so, but the days of those 8-figure salaries seem to be over. Kyle has stated that he is willing to take a pay cut to stay with the JGR organization and even then, nothing has been announced. 

Kyle did come out publicly last week with a statement on his future "I've got six, seven maybe eight more years. If I play all this out perfectly, Brexton and I share a truck when he turns 16 years old and it's his when he's 18 and I'm done." 

Now, I see this as the kind of thing a potential sponsor or team partner can look at with respect. It is a plan. It tells people, I'm not leaving because I have to take care of the future (Brexton). Kyle has a HUGE position with Toyota, being the owner of the dominant Truck Series team in series history. He is also the winningest driver in Toyota's history in the sport at well. David Wilson, President of TRD USA (Toyota Racing Development) had stated that they are "optimistic" in keeping Busch back in May, now several months later that word has changed to "We're in a bad place."

Some of the teams that have been in the rumor mills as of late for possible landing spots have been Richard Childress Racing, 23XI Racing, Kaulig and Stewart-Hass Racing as well. I know the entire NASCAR world is standing on edge waiting for an official announcement of some sort, and it will not come soon enough for us. Definitely not soon enough for the younger of the Busch brothers.