It’s been a long-time coming, but we’ve finally made it. NASCAR Silly Season is ready to take off.
Kyle Busch, the NASCAR Cup Series’ only active multi-time champion, will take his talents elsewhere for the 2023 season, announcing Tuesday he’ll join Richard Childress Racing (RCR) to pilot the No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro.
As initially reported by Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic on September 10, Busch moving to a new organization at season’s end marks the conclusion of a 15-year relationship between the 37-year-old, Joe Gibbs Racing, and Toyota Racing Development.
Busch, who captured a total of three championships for Joe Gibbs Racing (2009 NXS, 2015 NCS, 2019 NCS), also collected a whopping 146 victories for the organization, 56 of which came in the NASCAR Cup Series.
“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,” said Busch. “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.”
From the organization’s debut in 1969, Richard Childress Racing has been built into one of the most historic organizations in NASCAR history, with more than 200 wins and 16 championships, including six in the NASCAR Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt.
Additionally, RCR was the first organization to win titles in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, and NASCAR Truck Series, and is a three-time winner of the Daytona 500 (1998, 2007, 2018).
“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,” said Richard Childress, Chairman, and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “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?”
Randall Burnett will continue to serve as crew chief for the No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro
“We’d like to welcome Kyle back to Team Chevy, where he started his NASCAR career,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. Vice President, Performance and Motorsports. “As a 60 Cup race winner and two-time champion, he will be a valuable addition to Richard Childress Racing and the Chevrolet line-up. We look forward to working with Kyle starting in 2023.”
According to a team release, Tyler Reddick – the current driver of the No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro – remains under contract at Richard Childress Racing, and will continue to drive for the organization in 2023.
Additional program details, including the team’s sponsorship lineup, will be announced at a later date.
Video: Kyle Busch Officially Joins RCR for 2023; RCR Hands Option for Brexton Busch to Drive for Them in Future
