Kyle Busch is moving on. After 15 years and two championships with Toyota and Joe Gibbs Racing, the Las Vegas native is welcoming a change. He’ll be racing for Chevrolet stalwart Richard Childress Racing in NASCAR’s Cup Series from the 2023 season on. Busch’s move to the No. 8 Chevrolet for next season’s Cup Series championship run – and beyond – has been intimated, but not confirmed. That changed on Tuesday, September 13th when Busch and Richard Childress made their announcement at NASCAR’s Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C..
During his stay with Gibbs’ organization, the 37-year-old has collected 56 of his total 60 victories with the No. 18 team. HIs first four victories came with Hendrick Motorsports, also driving a Chevrolet product. “Kyle has been a major part of our history and success here at Joe Gibbs Racing,” team owner Joe Gibbs acknowledged. “We are thankful for all his contributions to our organization over the years. When you look at all that he has accomplished already, it is truly remarkable. We know someday we will be celebrating his [NASCAR] Hall of Fame induction. We also know he still has many more achievements in our sport ahead of him, including competing for the championship this season. We wish Kyle, Samatha, Brexton and Lennix the very best.”
As he moves his wares to the No. 8 Chevy and to working with Randall Burnett as his crew chief, Childress’ team acknowledged the addition of Busch will make them stronger, with Austin Dillon in the No. 3 and Tyler Reddick, who currently drives the No. 8 – who will drive for the team next year in a yet-to-be-announced car and number before moving to 23XI Racing in 2024 – adds to their capabilities. This announcement brought to closure the long-running contract uncertainty that’s surrounded Busch, who’s been musing about where he’d be driving next year throughout the summer, without giving a single detail.
“The addition of Kyle Busch to the Richard Childress Racing lineup is significant, not only for our organization but for the sport as a whole,” Childress said in his team’s statement about the move. “Kyle is a proven contender at the highest levels of the sport, and I believe that his experience and dedication to motorsports will elevate our race program across the board. I’ve always admired Kyle’s driving style,” Childress admitted, “and his ability to win and race for championships, ever since he entered the sport. Who wouldn’t want a proven NASCAR Cup Series champion driving their car?”
In a statement, Busch noted his future team’s impressive history in NASCAR. “I’m honored that Richard is putting his trust in me to come in and continue to build on that legacy,” the driver said. “Growing up in a family of passionate racers myself, I feel like the culture that the Childress family has built within their organization will be an ideal fit for me. As I begin the next chapter of my career, I’m looking forward to driving for RCR and working with everyone there to add more wins and championships to both of our resumes.”
Richard Childress Racing is renown for being the home of the late Dale Earnhardt, popularly known as The Intimidator. The addition of Busch to this No. 8 RCR team could be a great fit for both Busch and Childress. The Intimidator had quite an attitude – one that is matched in many ways by Kyle Busch – and was fearless on any race track. It used to be said that he rarely hit the wall because it didn’t have a number on it (which is not true of Pocono’s tri-cornered oval).
RCR’s Welcome, North Carolina campus is also the home of Okuma America, the maker of CNC machine tools. After the turn of the century, Childress hired the former managing director of Cosworth Racing, Nick Hayes, from that United Kingdom company; they went on to effect change in the culture of the company and helped integrate many Formula One technologies into NASCAR’s Cup Series.
As Busch made his statements in Charlotte, David Wilson, the president of Toyota Racing Development U.S.A. had this to say about the 15 years spent working with the sometimes volatile driver: “Toyota and TRD are privileged to have raced with Kyle Busch, one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history,” Wilson stated. “While we certainly wish Kyle the best of luck in the future and congratulate him on his announcement to join Richard Childress Racing, we’re disappointed and saddened that his future won’t continue to be with Team Toyota.
“Kyle has been an ambassador for Toyota since joining the program in 2008. He’s gone on to accumulate some of the most prestigious milestones possible for the Toyota brand, including our first Cup Series win for the Camry and first Cup Series championship. He will, undoubtedly, hold the record for the most wins in a Toyota across all three Championship Series for decades to come. But more than that, Kyle has been a friend, part of our family and has played a key role in the development of many of our drivers, through his ownership of Kyle Busch Motorsports. We wish nothing but the best for Kyle and his entire family as he moves into the next chapter of his Hall of Fame career. We’re thankful have been along for the ride.”
The plans of long-time Busch and JGR sponsor Mars Inc. are unknown at this time. The company announced earlier this year that it would be departing Joe Gibbs Racing.
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