Why did Kyle Busch ditch No:18 JGR Toyota to join the No:8 RCR Chevy team?


Why did Kyle Busch ditch No:18 JGR Toyota to join the No:8 RCR Chevy team?

Kyle Busch and Richard Childress

Kyle Busch has announced his decision to move from Joe Gibbs Racing to Richard Childress Racing. The veteran will no longer be part of the No:18 Toyota Camry from 2023 and will get back to a Chevy car after 15 long years and two championships. Bush will take over the No:8 Camaro ZL1 of Tyler Reddick.

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The move will surely disappoint the Toyota NASCAR contingent and its fans as the team is losing the best driver to ever set foot in their car considering the glories achieved with No:8 and them the No:18 team. JGR team who was just like its fans was desperate to find a suitable contract extension to their champion but failed to do so within the time constraints.

Kyle Busch found himself in an awkward situation for the first time in  15 years as he was facing a situation where he couldn’t even have a ride to drive. He had multiple offers on his table if he failed to reach an agreement with JGR and he choose the one where he could secure more success in the future.

Also read: “Insult to Dale Jr.,” NASCAR Twitter reacts to Kyle Busch taking over the No:8 RCR team from Tyler Reddick

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Why JGR couldn’t reach an agreement with Kyle Bush?

Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch and Joe Gibbs

Kyle Busch just doesn’t come as an individual driver if you are to give him a contract extension as the team also might have to sign a deal with his Truck Series outfit KBM. The long-term sponsor of Busch, M&M allowed the team to cover these expenses without any headache. But when the sponsor announced their exit from the sport in 2023 their headache started.

The huge financial burden was “too much” for JGR and their failure to find a suitable replacement that could afford them the same luxury as the previous ones prompted Kyle Busch’s exit. Some conspiracies suggest that Joe Gibbs, JGR owner, drove out Kyle to make space for his grandson Ty Gibbs, who is currently an Xfinity series driver.

Also read: Everything you need to know about NASCAR pit crew’s

Why Busch is replacing Tyler Reddick?

Richard Childless
Tyler Reddick and Richard Childless

Tyler Reddick’s move from the No:8 team to the new Charter that is going to be introduced in 2023 came after the pre-contract he signed with 23X1 Racing. Tyler Reddick will join the likes of Bubba Wallace and probably Kurt Busch in 2024 as a 23X1 driver after his contract runs out at the end of 2023.

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The move from Tyler Reddick which was reportedly not efficiently conveyed to the No:8 team and RCR management made some eyebrows raise in the community. The movie can surely be considered as a blow to the driver as he might not get the best resources to race at his best in 2023.

Also read:  How much does a NASCAR pit crew member make a year?  

What Kyle Busch and RCR owner Richard Childress had to say about the veteran team switch

Richard Childress
Richard Childress

RCR has an impressive history in NASCAR and I’m honored that Richard is putting his trust in me to come in and continue to build on that legacy. 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,” Kyle Busch said.

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,” Kyle Busch added.

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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. 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,” said Richard Childress.

“I’ve always admired Kyle’s driving style 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?” added Richard Childress.

What are your thoughts on Kyle Busch’s move?

Also read: Bob Pockrass proclaims Bubba Wallace as “a playoff contender in the coming seasons,” after his Kansas win

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