RCR was not Kyle Busch’s first choice, but it may be his best

Had longtime sponsor Mars Inc. and its M&Ms model determined to proceed its NASCAR sponsorship quite than go away sport following this season, the ultimate years of Kyle Busch’s Cup Collection profession would have probably performed out because the final 15 – driving the No. 18 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Definitely, there was the probability of many extra victories to come back – and maybe championships – as a part of an already Corridor of Fame-worthy profession.

However now confronted with the fact of getting to switch a multi-million-dollar sponsorship to cowl Busch’s wage as a premier driver, JGR was unable to seek out provide you with a comparable choice, which compelled Busch to discover avenues.

And as occurred in NASCAR many instances, the unlikely ended up turning into potential.

Busch, 37, introduced Tuesday he would be a part of Richard Childress Racing starting with the 2023 season and drive the group’s No. 8 Chevrolet as a teammate to Austin Dillon and – least for now – Tyler Reddick, who must transfer to a 3rd as-yet undetermined workforce.

RCR earlier this season introduced it had picked up the 2023 choice on Reddick’s contract to drive the No. 8. Shortly thereafter Reddick knowledgeable RCR he would be a part of 23XI Racing in 2024.

Reddick’s early announcement of his 2024 plans didn’t sit nicely with RCR and it’s no marvel why. Reddick has demonstrated to be probably the greatest up-and-coming skills within the Cup Collection, incomes his first two collection wins this season.

The subsequent RCR champion?

So RCR, which final gained a Cup Collection championship in 1994 with late Dale Earnhardt, turned to an equally controversial NASCAR star to assist preserve its group on the upswing.

It didn’t take lengthy for Childress, who was current on the NASCAR Corridor of Fame in Charlotte, N.C., on Tuesday for Busch’s announcement, to convey up the comparability.

“After I was up there with Kyle and we first began speaking and we talked about championships and we talked about successful races, I checked out him in his eye, and I had seen that look in Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s eye that he’s hungry – we’re going to win,” Childress stated.

“I’d seen that look earlier than, and watching Kyle, I’ve watched his expertise since he began within the Busch (now Xfinity) Collection, and simply how he handles the automotive, the automotive management, the best way he drives the automotive and take-no-prisoners perspective.

“That’s the Dale Earnhardt-style I used to be accustomed to racing with, and I believe Kyle has that modern-day fashion of racing that Dale Earnhardt had in his time.”

Requested what he thought in regards to the comparability to Earnhardt, Busch stated, “Definitely, it’s flattering.” But additionally pointed on the market is just one Dale Earnhardt.

That’s true simply as there is just one Kyle Busch and that could be precisely what RCR wants proper now.

Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing, M&M’s Toyota Camry

Photograph by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Images

Busch stated his prime precedence so far as the continuation of his Cup profession goes was to seek out a corporation the place he may win and compete from the beginning.

It’s just a little late in his profession for Busch to change into a constructing block of a brand new group and albeit with him nonetheless on prime of his recreation, it could be a waste of expertise to take action.

In latest seasons, RCR has returned to a workforce that may wins races – much more so this 12 months with the debut of the Subsequent Gen automotive.

That was sufficient for Busch.

“After we first sat down and had dialogue about this chance, it was straightforward,” Busch stated.

“Simply seeing their general tradition – being round Richard, speaking with Austin (Dillon) and having the prospect to only take a look at the entire image of what’s happening with RCR as of late, and I felt prefer it was a no brainer.”

A posh relationship

To get so far, Childress and Busch first needed to overcome a few of their very own rocky NASCAR historical past.

In 2011, Childress, as a part of a bodily altercation within the storage at Kansas Speedway, took off his watch after which punched Busch. NASCAR fined Childress $150,000 and positioned him on probation for the remainder of the season and so was created the “Maintain My Watch” incident.

However as they are saying, time heals all wounds.

As a “signing bonus,” Childress on Tuesday offered Busch with a brand new Rolex.

“Will you maintain my watch?” Childress requested Busch as he offered the reward.

“Completely,” Busch replied.