Kyle Busch faced uncertainty for much of 2022 regarding his future with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), where he had driven the No. 18 Toyota since 2008. With the departure of long-time sponsor Mars/M&M’s and ongoing Kyle Busch JGR contract negotiations, the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion was left without a guaranteed seat for the 2023 season.
Busch expressed a strong desire to remain with JGR despite these challenges, even indicating a willingness to make personal sacrifices. He acknowledged the possibility of accepting a contract below his market value to keep his seat with the team that had become his home for over a decade.
“My first option, my first goal, my first set is to be at Joe Gibbs Racing and stay with Toyota and have nothing change… I don’t think it needs to be that number because obviously, there’s a number in that, then pays a driver and I’ve already said that I’m willing to take concessions and race for under my market value and go forward and being able to stay in the seat that I’ve made home for the last 15 years,” Busch said (via NASCAR).
During the early part of the 2022 season, Busch showed strong performance, including a victory at the Bristol Dirt Race that secured an early playoff spot, and podium finishes at Talladega, Kansas, Charlotte, and Gateway. However, his results declined as the contract talks lingered, raising speculation about off-track distractions.
JGR crew chief Ben Beshore dismissed these concerns, stating that the recent poor finishes were not linked to Busch’s contract situation and emphasizing Busch’s continued focus and effort both at the shop and on race weekends.
“We’ve had a rough last six weeks here of not getting the finishes that we’re used to getting… the reason we’re not finishing well doesn’t have anything to do with contract talks or anything like that…. Kyle’s put in a lot of effort at the shop and on the weekends and he’s dialed in. We’re all trying to finish the best we can every week. So, I don’t feel like it’s a distraction at all,” Beshore told NASCAR.com.
Despite his playoff eligibility, Busch remained uncertain about his future beyond 2022, openly considering multiple offers and exploring both short- and long-term possibilities as time grew scarce for finalizing his next move.
The Transition from JGR to Richard Childress Racing and Its Challenges
Busch ended his 15-year tenure with JGR in 2022 after Richard Childress Racing (RCR) announced they had signed him to drive the No. 8 Chevrolet beginning in 2023. This marked a significant change both in team and manufacturer, as Busch returned to Chevrolet—where his Cup career began nearly 20 years earlier with Hendrick Motorsports—and left Toyota, the brand with which he had the most success.
The decision closed a chapter of two Cup Series championships and 56 wins with JGR, and despite efforts by Toyota Racing Development to keep him in their “family,” the split was inevitable.
“I mean, Kyle Busch is our 60-home run hitter. And we’d be foolish not to put everything in play to keep him in the family,” Toyota Racing Development president David Wilson had said just weeks before the decision.
Busch acknowledged the emotional weight of the decision, revealing unease about disappointing people connected to his long-standing relationships.
“Trust me, my gut doesn’t feel good, and that’s not just for decisions being made, but more so of decisions being weighed and the perception in how you come across to all of those that you’re going to disappoint, right? There’s going to be one winner, and the rest are not winners, if you look at it in that regard,” he told NASCAR.com.
Joining RCR also meant setting aside earlier conflicts, including a notable 2011 confrontation with team owner Richard Childress. Both parties chose to move past those moments in the interest of their new partnership.
Kyle Busch’s Performance and Team Changes After the Switch
Busch began the 2023 season with promise, securing three victories and qualifying for the playoffs. However, he was eliminated in the Round of 12 and has not reached victory lane since his June win at Gateway. Later that year, he sold Kyle Busch Motorsports to Spire Motorsports, ending his direct engagement with the Truck Series.
Into 2024, Busch’s performance has shown flashes of speed but lacked consistency. The No. 8 team missed the playoffs entirely last season, a rare downturn for a driver accustomed to competing at the highest level. As the 2025 regular season nears its conclusion, Busch finds himself below the playoff cutline again, searching for the momentum that once defined his career at Joe Gibbs Racing.
This ongoing struggle highlights how pivotal the contract negotiations and team changes have been in shaping the recent arc of Busch’s career. The results underline the challenges of adapting to new environments and pressures after a long, successful tenure with one organization.
