The retirement of Martin Truex Jr caused shock in the community this weekend. But perhaps the drivers who reflect the most on the veteran’s decision are none other than JGR’s teammates who competed against him. While Denny Hamlin is still on top of the world at Joe Gibbs Racing, the same can’t be said for Kyle Busch. After parting ways with JGR at the end of the 2022 season due to sponsorship issues, Rowdy’s season at Richard Childress Racing did not live up to expectations.
For one of NASCAR’s winningest drivers, moving away from a “top-tier” team like JGR meant he could take things easier. But with Kyle Busch carefully treading the playoff cutoff zone with RCR while JGR and HMS take the top spots, Rowdy can’t help but remember times of better contention.
As his time at RCR goes up in flames, Kyle Busch lays out all his cards
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20 years ago, Kyle Busch made his debut in the then-Nextel Cup Series, driving Rick Hendrick’s #84 Chevrolet. Midway through the year, Busch was announced as a full-time driver for HMS beginning in 2005. In just his first year of Cup contention, Busch had managed to take home two wins for HMS, establishing himself as the season’s Rookie of the Year. .
However, this dominant relationship between Kyle Busch and Hendrick Motorsports would not last long. Midway through the 2007 season, Rowdy announced that he and Rick Hendrick had broken up. The reasons, according to Busch, had a lot to do with a “change of agent” and the All-Star Race incident that led to troubled relations between Rowdy and the head of HMS.
Although Busch moved to Joe Gibbs Racing and, as we all know, made history, when it came time to say goodbye to his Cup home of nearly 15 years, Rowdy moved to Richard Childress Racing in hopes of continuing his career in the front of the package. Unfortunately, after a series of mediocre results this year, Kyle Busch doesn’t seem to be at peace with his decision making.
So when Busch was asked about the chances of him moving to a former team like JGR or HMS, Rowdy put all his cards on the table. Busch shared with FrontStretch: “I would say anything is always possible. Certainly, if he were welcome (at JGR) he would return. If Hendrick welcomed me, he would come back. But right now, I’m at RCR with my group of guys and the deal we have right now, so we’re trying to build this program and make RCR great again.”
As things stand, Busch has a contract with Richard Childress Racing that keeps him through the end of next season, but with time working against the 39-year-old driver, what options does he have for a potential move, if not by Hendrick Motorsports?
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Alternatives to Kyle Busch’s RCR exit plan
If Kyle Busch were to move from RCR after his contract expires to another team, there are some potential options that would be a great fit should Rick Hendrick show no interest. Aside from Joe Gibbs Racing, both Team Penske and 23XI Racing have shown solid form throughout the season, topping nearly every RCR driver in the regular season points standings so far.
With Martin Truex Jr’s departure from JGR leaving a prime spot up for grabs, Rowdy could step in and rekindle his further association with NASCAR. That being said, Hendrick Motorsports could also be an option if Alex Bowman was considered. However, aside from these top teams, Kyle Busch could choose to remain at Richard Childress Racing and take the team to the HMS and JGR levels.
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But that is not all. As a 39-year-old full-time Cup driver, Busch finds himself in a peculiar situation. On the one hand, Rowdy is old enough to have experienced everything that Cup racing entails, making him the perfect driver to help lead a newer team like 23XI Racing or even mentor newer drivers on a team. like JGR. That said, Busch is also running out of time, as he only has a few years of full-time contention left in his career.
As Busch inches closer to becoming the oldest active driver in the Cup Series, can a change in teams and environment help Rowdy rejuvenate his lost momentum in time for another championship?
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