Joe Gibbs Racing is reportedly pulling all the stops in a attempt to sign a new sponsor
Kyle Busch is in a contract year. His deal with Joe Gibbs Racing is set to end following the 2022 season.
The team is currently working on a new deal. However, a new deal requires a new sponsor. At the end of the year, MARS Incorporated is dropping their NASCAR sponsorship of the No. 18 car.
Last month, Busch was vague when speaking on a new deal with JGR. He noted, ‘Goodbye’ if things don’t work out regarding a renewal, hinting he doesn’t have issues joining a new team.
Kyle Busch hints at ‘Goodbye’ with Joe Gibbs Racing contract
Toyota later commented on Busch’s reaction to a deal for 2023. They expressed disappointment with his comments as they continue to look for a new sponsor.
Toyota ‘disappointed’ as Kyle Busch hints at Goodbye to Joe Gibbs Racing
Earlier this week, president of Toyota Racing development David Wilson spoke in detail on the situation building regarding a contract renewal.
Toyota Racing Development comments on Kyle Busch’s contract renewal
“We’ve been very close to Kyle for years and years and years, and some of that relationship, to be candid, has been born through trials that we’ve gone through together and through controversy that we’ve gone through together,” Wilson told NASCAR.com.
“We’ve had some really tough times with Kyle Busch but we also are sitting on two championships and in celebrating recently our 1,500 starts across the three national series.”
“I’ll pull this up, because I keep the stat handy all the time: One driver has accounted for 36% of our total wins across all three series, and you know who that driver is. It’s just amazing.”
“So any scenario that doesn’t have Kyle Busch retiring from Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota would be a monstrous disappointment — for us and for Coach Gibbs and the family.”
NASCAR team owner calls Kyle Busch a “Little B****” (Video)
TRD sees a future with Kyle Busch and his son Brexton Busch
“Put yourself in his shoes. He’s on an out year of his contract. This is so rare, because, of course, what the team, what we try and do is get well ahead of this, particularly with a tier-one driver like Kyle Busch,” Wilson said.
“The circumstances, unfortunately, have made that challenging. So you know, we’re working on it. This is a conversation I have with Joe every week, and I’m optimistic.”
“I know, and Kyle wants … you know, he doesn’t want to go anywhere else. He has been very candid. You know, he can’t wait for the day that his little boy, Brexton, races a Toyota Tundra out of the Kyle Busch Motorsports stable. He has that in his sights. And that’s not going to be for another 10-plus years, which means that we’ve got to make sure that we’re still together long after Kyle’s out of the driver’s seat full time.”
Brexton Busch has been racing is quarter midgets. And he’s winning, all across the country.
“If nothing else, I can’t envision any other scenario. Any other scenario is just unacceptable,” Wilson said. “The last I’ll add is just the point of obvious — it takes both of us to get there, right? It takes Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing and Kyle Busch to get there. So we can’t control everything, and I’ll leave it at that.”
Kyle Busch and Brexton Busch visit victory lane in Arizona
Update
The sponsorship search for Kyle Busch continues. And Joe Gibbs Racing is apparently looking well outside the traditional box.
JGR has hired JTG Daugherty Racing owner Tad Geschickter’s marketing agency as reported by Adam Stern.
JTG is a Chevrolet backed operation. It’s highly unusual for a Toyota to reach out across manufacture alliances regarding a sponsorship search. This shows JGR is actively attempting to reach a deal, quickly.
Busch signed was JGR at the start of the 2008 season. All but four of his 61 NASCAR Cup Series wins have come with Joe Gibbs Racing.
Kyle Busch seeking NASCAR sponsor that allows Kyle to be Kyle
