Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr. & Joe Gibbs Racing At The Crossroads

Kyle Busch has battled through a summer of uncertainty.

Back in April, Busch made comments to the media indicating he and Joe Gibbs Racing had made little progress on a new contract. Although Busch’s frustration was evident, it felt like what he and JGR really needed was simply more time to find the right sponsor for the No. 18. Once they did, all of the details about Busch’s future would fall into place.

But that was four months ago and, in reality, few questions have been answered. Busch still doesn’t have a contract for next year. Gibbs has not found a suitable sponsor for the No. 18. Busch’s future remains very much in doubt. As hard as it might be to believe, Busch may not be competing with JGR next year. In fact, a Busch/Gibbs breakup in 2023 is starting to seem more likely than a reunion.

On Saturday, Aug. 20, Busch gave a candid interview about the factors he’s considered while working through his plans for next year. The entire clip is worth a listen, but it’s important to note here that Busch has been thinking about more than where he would be most competitive. Busch says that there is “a big change coming” for him and his family, and while he has opportunities available to keep racing in the NASCAR Cup Series, “it will not look the same as it has for the last 15 years.”

If Busch were to leave the No. 18, it would truly be the end of an era at JGR. Busch’s presence on the team goes back to 2008, where he made an immediate impact by winning eight races that season. But it feels like the current era of JGR did not begin until a few years later, around 2013. Prior to that, Gibbs’ operation often looked like a rudderless ship. Busch and Denny Hamlin, then still two of the young guns in the Cup Series, were often fast but struggled to consistently perform well and keep their emotions in check.

It wasn’t until the arrival of 2003 Cup champion Matt Kenseth and the introduction of the Gen 6 car that JGR began a steady rise in year-to-year performance. The continued development of Busch and Hamlin, combined with the veteran expertise of drivers like Kenseth and Carl Edwards, allowed JGR to overtake Hendrick Motorsports as the top team in NASCAR. Gibbs also helped to build satellite organization Furniture Row Racing into a title contender, and it won a championship of its own in 2017 with Martin Truex Jr.

Now, Joe Gibbs Racing and several of its drivers find themselves at a crossroads. Busch has been the organization’s…