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NASCAR: Kyle Busch Announces He’s Joining Richard Childress Racing in 2023

Rowdy has found a new home. NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Busch announced at a press conference Tuesday that he is joining Richard Childress Racing (RCR) for 2023 and beyond.

He will drive the No. 8 Chevy Camaro — currently driven by Tyler Reddick. Busch’s announcement comes after months of questions about his status. Busch’s contract with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) expires at the end of the season. So does his sponsorship with Mars Inc. Richard Childress said a sponsorship for the No. 8 team is to be determined. Reddick, meanwhile, will remain with RCR in 2023, although it’s unclear what his role will be. Reddick previously announced he’s joining 23XI Racing in 2024.

“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,” Busch said in a press release. “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.

“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.”

The End of an Era for Kyle Busch at Joe Gibbs Racing

Busch, 37, is currently in the hunt for his third Cup Series championship. The 2015 and 2019 champion sits 13th in the points standings with the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway coming up this Saturday. Busch will need to get into the top-12 to advance to the next round of the playoffs.

The final eight races of the season will represent the end to a near 15-year ride with JGR. Busch came over in 2008 after spending the first three seasons of his career with Hendrick Motorsports. He has won 56 races driving the No. 18 Toyota Camry and become one of the faces of the sport. Busch has said he was weighing multiple offers but it doesn’t appear a return to JGR was an option.

“Apparently they’ve [JGR] got other irons in the fire,” Busch said. “Maybe other sponsors for other drivers and that’s the road they’re going down.”

But now it’s a new challenge for Busch — and it’s a hefty one. Childress has won six Cup Series championships as a team owner. None, however, since Dale Earnhardt in 1994. Childress, ironically, said Tuesday that Busch reminds him of Earnhardt.

“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,” Childress said in a team release. “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. 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?”

This is a developing story. Check back with Outsider for updates.