NASCAR: Kyle Busch to race for RCR in 2023 (4th Update)

Kyle Busch will join Richard Childress Racing in 2023, multiple sources told The Athletic, ending a highly successful tenure at Joe Gibbs Racing that saw the driver-team pairing win two Cup Series championships and 56 races over a 15-year span.

An official announcement is expected Tuesday.

Busch was pushed out of Joe Gibbs Racing to make room for his little grandson, Ty.

NASCAR driver Kyle Busch is weighing multiple offers to leave Joe Gibbs Racing next year, and the two front-runners to land him are Richard Childress Racing and 23XI Racing, according to sources. Busch has acknowledged publicly in recent weeks that he has offers from a handful of teams, and leaving JGR would have significant implications for him and the series. Teams that are said to have had talks with him about next year include RCR, 23XI, Kaulig Racing and Stewart-Haas Racing, but sources have pegged RCR and 23XI as the current front-runners.

If Busch joined the two-car RCR, it is unclear whether that would be to start a third car or to buy out Tyler Reddick, the driver of the team’s No. 8 who recently announced that he would leave the team after the 2023 season. If Busch joins the two-car 23XI, it is similarly unclear whether that would be to start a third team or to replace his brother Kurt Busch, who has a deal through 2023 but has been out of competition for several weeks with concussion issues. Kurt Busch’s absence has led to industry speculation that his return in 2023 is not guaranteed, although a person familiar with the situation told SBJ that he intends to return next year unless he is not medically cleared. Potential sponsorship plans from either team for Kyle Busch have yet to be learned.  Sports Business Journal

According to Sports Business Journal’s Adam Stern, Richard Childress Racing (RCR) has emerged as one of the favorites to sign the two-time Cup Series Champion.

RCR currently fields two cars, the No. 3 for Austin Dillon and No. 8 for Tyler Reddick. Reddick is set to leave the organization after 2023 for 23XI Racing. But if Busch joins RCR, there is a strong possibility the team will field a third car to complement Reddick and Dillon.

The other team still in the mix for Busch, 23XI Racing, is co-owned by JGR driver Denny Hamlin and NBA legend Michael Jordan. If Busch wants to stay within the Toyota camp, 23XI Racing would be his best bet.

Busch hasn’t driven for Chevrolet since 2007, when competing for Hendrick Motorsports. However, it seems the manufacturer is set to welcome the veteran back with open arms. While staying with Toyota remains a possibility, all signs point to Busch leaving JGR after the 2022 season and heading to one of the most historic NASCAR teams in RCR.

Two-time Cup champion Kyle Busch says he hopes to have a decision soon on where he’ll drive next season.

Busch, speaking at NASCAR’s playoff media day, told reporters Thursday that he has multiple options (such as this) in front of him. NBC Sports

Fox NASCAR journalist Bob Pockrass reports that Kyle Busch and Joe Gibbs both denied a week ago that any decision has been made on Busch re-signing with JGR, and both declined to give any meaningful updates while at Daytona.

Both Richard Childress and Matt Kaulig — owners of Chevrolet teams — have indicated they have been among those who have had talks with Busch, but wouldn’t give any hints of how close they are to a deal.

With little Ty Gibbs expected to soon drive full time for grand pop’s team, all other JGR drivers will have to worry whether nepotism takes over and little Ty gets the best car.

Busch likely would fare better long-term with a Chevy team.