On August 14, 2007, Kyle Busch openly declared his commitment to Joe Gibbs Racing after signing with the team, signaling a major career move in NASCAR. This focus on Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing marked a turning point for the then-22-year-old driver, who sought new opportunities after three full seasons at Hendrick Motorsports.
Busch was driving the No. 5 Chevrolet at Hendrick and had just completed a strong 2007 season, finishing fifth in the points standings, which made him one of the sport’s most promising young drivers. Although Hendrick Motorsports offered him a contract extension, Busch chose to pursue a fresh start with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), where he believed he had a better chance to win championships.
Busch’s Early Days and Success at Joe Gibbs Racing
During a press conference announcing his move to JGR, Busch praised the organization’s leadership and looked forward to the future. He said,
“J.D. (Gibbs) and Joe (Gibbs) and their hospitality that they’ve given me and everything that they’ve done for me has just been awesome. Norm (Miller) have met him a few years ago and being a part of the 18 with Interstate Batteries on board and looking forward to it and just being able to get out there in 2008 and try to win some races and contend for some championships. Ultimately like J.D. said hopefully be here for the rest of my career.”
—Kyle Busch, NASCAR driver
The move also triggered significant changes across teams. Dale Earnhardt Jr. replaced Busch in the No. 5 car at Hendrick Motorsports, while Busch took over the No. 18 Toyota at Joe Gibbs Racing, a change that brought immediate results.
In his debut 2008 season with JGR, Kyle Busch won eight Cup races and secured 17 top-five finishes, quickly proving the fit was right. The following year, he earned the Nationwide Series championship, further cementing his status as a top-tier competitor. Despite facing a severe leg injury at Daytona in 2015, Busch returned to clinch his first Cup Series championship that year and added a second championship title in 2019.
Over 15 seasons with Joe Gibbs Racing, Busch amassed 56 Cup wins and became Toyota’s all-time leader in national series victories. His achievements underscored the success of his partnership with JGR, fulfilling many of the promises he had hoped for when he joined.
Unexpected Changes Lead to Busch’s Departure from Joe Gibbs Racing
However, Busch’s tenure with JGR did not conclude as he had envisioned. In 2022, when Mars/M&M’s, his primary sponsor, exited NASCAR, Joe Gibbs Racing was unable to secure full funding for the No. 18 car. Though Busch was offered a chance to compete without a primary sponsor, he chose to explore other options and ultimately signed with Richard Childress Racing (RCR) for the 2023 season.
Throughout much of 2022, Busch remained intent on staying with JGR, even expressing a willingness to accept a pay cut to remain with the team. But as contract negotiations stalled, Richard Childress Racing presented an alternative that Busch found compelling.
A New Chapter with Richard Childress Racing
In September 2022, Richard Childress Racing announced that Busch would join their No. 8 Chevrolet on a multi-year deal. This move involved a major shift not only between teams but also manufacturers, from Toyota to Chevrolet. The transition was notable given the history between Busch and Childress, who had a physical altercation in the garage at Kansas in 2011.
Reflecting on that history, Childress commented in 2022,
“He and I have talked. We put all of our differences behind us a while back and he’s a great race driver.”
—Richard Childress, RCR owner
Busch echoed this sentiment about their renewed relationship, emphasizing opportunity and trust:
“Trust me, my gut doesn’t feel good… there’s going to be one winner, and the rest are not winners… it was fine the first time I sat down with him. Everything was okay. The biggest thing about it was just having an opportunity to kind of put that behind us.”
—Kyle Busch, NASCAR driver
Despite the fresh start, Kyle Busch has yet to replicate the level of success he achieved with Joe Gibbs Racing. In 2024, he missed the playoffs for the first time in two decades, highlighting the difficulty of adjusting to a new team environment. As the 2025 regular season nears its end, Busch remains on the playoff bubble, demonstrating his determination amid ongoing challenges.
Kyle Busch’s career journey illustrates how even the most established relationships in NASCAR can change unexpectedly, influenced by sponsorship, team dynamics, and business realities. His move from Joe Gibbs Racing after a longstanding, successful partnership signifies a significant shift in the sport, affecting both the driver’s trajectory and the competitive landscape.