“We want Kyle to be in the No:18 car and that’s our plan,” Joe Gibbs Racing president Dave Alpern opens up on Kyle Busch’s contract situation
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Kyle Busch and Dave Alpern
The long-term partnership between Joe Gibbs Racing and Kyle Busch seems to be nearing its end as the lack of new sponsorship deal confirmation for the No:18 Toyota Camry is yet to be announced. Kyle Busch who started his journey with JGR in 2008 secured 56 of his 60-cup wins with the team which also saw him securing two cup championships.
Kyle Busch is yet to pen his contract extension with the team which will see him competing in the cup series in the coming years as the Toyota team will not be wanting to see their star man for the last decade racing with another team in the future. The major problem for the team is to resolve the sponsorship situation they have with him as his long-time sponsors Mars announced their exit from the sport from the end of this season.
Find out what Joe Gibbs Racing president Dave Alpern had to say on Kyle Busch’s contract situation
Joe Gibbs Racing president Dave Alpern pointed out that they have been really consistent with the kyle Busch situation, that is they want Kyle Busch in the No:18 car in the future. He went on to say that they are still working on the sponsorship deals that can assure his place here and added that securing such deals is a long process though there is a lot of interest in the market for such sponsorships. He acknowledged that Kyle Busch sponsorship deals are getting a little too long to materialize than they envisioned.
“We’ve been pretty consistent since the end of last season, which is we want Kyle to be in the (No.) 18 car and that’s our plan. We’re still working on sponsorship, and as much interest as there is in our sport, these take a long time. And admittedly, this one’s taking a little longer than we thought,” Dave Alpern said.
The Joe Gibbs official went on to add that the lack of interest isn’t the barrier to signing him it’s just the matter of putting everything together. Dave Alpern added that these deals will happen in parallel to each other as he claims the team is hoping to resolve things in the very near future saying “It’s not for lack of interest. It’s just trying to get everything put together. So those will probably happen in parallel. And, again, we’re hoping to get something decided here in the very near future,”.
He went on to say that they have been getting sponsors for the drivers for the last 30 years and they will do the same for Kyle Busch. He pointed out that getting a sponsor for the team is not just putting some name tag on the hood it’s about finding partnerships that make sense and added that they are in the hunt for that right fit.
“What we do is get sponsors. I mean, we’ve been doing that for 30 years. We’re in the business. I think it’s not a matter of just slapping something on the car. It’s finding a partnership that makes sense. And so, we’re just trying to find the right fit,” said Joe Gibbs Racing President.
He went on to add that they have every intention to re-sign Kyle Busch but suggested that it’s not easy to speculate things in the professional sport pointing out the situation when Carl Edwards announced his retirement during the Christmas week. Joe Gibbs Racing’s president added that they are confident and hopeful about their plans to sign Busch with a good partner in his car for next year.
“We have every intention (of re-signing Busch. Pro sports — look, things happen. Carl Edwards retired on the week of Christmas one year, so trying to speculate what’s going to happen? Things happen. But the plan is we feel confident there’ll be a good partner on that car for next year. And, again, the hope is that Kyle Busch will be in it,” added Dave Alpern.
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Justin P Joy
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