“Biggest corporate kiss-a** in the series”- Fans react as Kyle Busch makes ‘NASCAR a money game, not a skill game’ admission

Having the proper sponsor to back your exploits is the first thing a NASCAR driver looks for to be successful.


“Biggest corporate kiss-a** in the series”- Fans react as Kyle Busch makes ‘NASCAR a money game, not a skill game’ admission

Kyle Busch

Unlike many other renowned sports events, Motorsports is part of a unique group exclusive to the ones with strong financial backing. For a child racing prodigy to make a name for himself in the junior program, he or she needs parents or benefactors to invest heavily in the basic needs so they can be competitive.

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Even with all the right investments and success in the earlier days, there is no guarantee that a driver will make it to the top solely based on skills. It is truer in NASCAR, as with teams working with tight budgets without the right sponsors, there is no survival. Two times Cup champion Kyle Busch in his media session ahead of the Coco-Cola 600, pointed out that the sport became a money game long ago.

He was talking about a potential Cup seat availability for his former driver John Hunter Nemechek. Busch said that sport value money over skill. The owners cannot invest in budding talents because of the costs. He also added that if Nemechek puts $6 Million on the table, he will get a seat in the Joe Gibbs Racing team in 2024.

This isn’t to be mean or rude or a bad word, but he needs 6 million bucks and he’ll be in a JGR Cup car next year. It’s all he needs. It’s not a success game anymore. It’s a money game. So if he can find the cash, then there’ll be a seat for him. I’m pretty sure,” Kyle Busch said.

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These owners anymore, there’s not enough money in the sport that they’re making. Money that they’re willing to reinvest it into their talent pool, into their driver pool, and put it out there. So I think Rick is probably the only one with Larson. Everybody else is all sponsorship-driven,” Kyle Busch added.

In case you missed it: Kyle Larson is charging to the Cup title by recreating his dominant 2021 campaign

Here is how fans on Twitter reacted to Kyle Busch’s opinion

John Hunter Nemechek and Kyle Bu
John Hunter Nemechek and Kyle Busch (Credits: NASCAR)

Fans are convinced Busch is spot-on with his arguments about the sport becoming increasingly a money game. They even recalled Busch losing his JGR seat after the team failed to replace his primary sponsor properly. Some fans argued that though Busch is correct, the drivers should market themselves to attract sponsors.

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