Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
In case you live under a rock, Kyle Busch’s impending free agency has started a frenzy in the NASCAR world.
While it may have seemed impossible for some fans (myself included) to see the younger Busch brother driving anything but a Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, many recent reports suggest that the two-time championship is headed elsewhere.
Make no mistake about it- Kyle Busch is still a premier driver in the Cup series. When a driver of his stature hits the open market, rumors inevitably come and go. This iteration has been an interesting one, as teams like Trackhouse and Kaulig have been thrown around, as well as the possibility of Rowdy purchasing a charter and bringing KBM to Cup.
While those options may be enticing, I tend to believe a driver like Kyle Busch wouldn’t want to waste time trying to build a team up. He’s 37 and coming off some down years, he’s going to want to find an already well-established team.
Perhaps a team like Stewart-Haas Racing would do.
Yes, Tony Stewart and Gene Haas are rumored to want Kyle Busch. They’re looking for a driver just as much as Busch is looking for a ride. This one, to me, makes the most sense should Busch leave the 18 car. There are plenty of factors that make this a potential home run signing.
1. Neither party is going to find a better match
For Busch, the fact of the matter is this: you’re 37, still looking for a sponsor and demand a lot of money. The Hendricks and Penskes of the world aren’t hiring and would look at cheaper options even if they were. Fortunately for you, Stewart-Haas is the perfect spot for your situation. Aric Almirola announced his retirement and Cole Custer has struggled dramatically the past two years. Additionally, Haas has been more than willing to slap his own company on his cars. Now the team brought in Ryan Preece as a development driver to wait for a ride, but who would Haas rather have driving his self-sponsored car?
2. Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch would be great teammates
How often does a team get the chance to have two top-12 drivers ever on their team at the same time? That’s what SHR would have with Busch and Kevin Harvick. Don’t let memories of 2011 give you doubt, the fence has mended and two have a tremendous amount of respect for one another. Harvick himself is on record saying he’s “100% open” to the idea of having the younger Busch as a teammate as he should be. Harvick is showing his old championship-level form, something very enticing for any driver looking for a ride. Busch and Harvick would be great for any team to have for both their talent and leadership. How beneficial would it be for Chase Briscoe and Cole Custer to have two all-time great drivers to lean on?
3. Ford needs development help
Here’s a question for you: who is Ford’s biggest prospect after Zane Smith and Ryan Preece? If your answer is Hailie Deegan or Riley Herbst, you may understand the dilemma. Ford has very slim pickings in the lower series compared to Chevrolet and Toyota. How does Kyle Busch fit into this? It’s simple- he has a truck team. Busch laid out a big plan at Richmond where he wants his son, Brexton, on the team part-time at 16 and 17 before going full-time when he reaches 18 years old. If you get Kyle Busch, you also get Kyle Busch Motorsports. Obviously there is no telling what the team’s 2023 roster will look like today, but just imagine if the likes of Chandler Smith, John Hunter Nemechek and maybe even Corey Heim were driving F-150s instead of Tundras. The power shift could be seismic. That should be the biggest negotiating asset for Busch and the biggest need for the team owner.
4. Leverage
Tony Stewart is not exactly on the best of terms with Ford. It all goes back to filling the 14 car after Clint Bowyer retired in 2020. Stewart wanted Kyle Larson in the car desperately but Ford opted for Chase Briscoe. Now that Larson is a champion, that anger surely has to still be there. Fortunately for Stewart, their contract with Ford expires in 2023. Word is that they’re looking intently at a potential shift to Dodge. The best case scenario for Stewart and the team would be bringing in a guy like Kyle Busch and his decorated Truck series team. That leverage could be key in either an extension with Ford or a move to Dodge. Who knows, maybe a team like JTG-Daugherty Racing could follow along in hopes of forming an alliance? With a revamped development program, that cost would only grow.
This is one of the most intriguing free agency situations in quite some time, with many suitors still available. Where do you see Kyle Busch next year? Feel free to reach out on Twitter @HBLoomis. Let’s talk racing!
Comments