2022 NASCAR THREAD

The car needs to be black.

 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cicyh89L6oP/?igshid=NmNmNjAwNzg=

 

They're still working on which sponsors will sponsor what races. But RC did make a few Dale Sr references and Kyle had no qualms about the number. The way he saw it was that it was a Richard Childress number and he was going to race in it, much like the 5 and 18

 

Also hilarious was Richard Childress gifted Kyle Busch a watch...which is probably the watch

 

I don’t know much about Rolex watches but it was reported RC removed a green Rolex before pummeling KB. RC handed him a green Rolex box. It is likely *the* watch.

 

Kyle Busch says it's in his contract that he can race for a Chevy team in the Indy 500.

 

I guess Gibbs was the only one who said no? Wonder why because Toyota was ok with it as long as it wasn't a Honda team.

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cic2P2hL0NV/?igshid=NmNmNjAwNzg=

 

Look at them playing nice. I'm still uneasy about the whole thing, but mostly from a change perspective. But I guess all good things must come to an end and new eras have to begin.

 

it is and will continue to be an uneasy feeling with me as well. I was pretty stoked during the press conference as I truly believe this move is going to be good for his career. I didn't follow KB much during his HMS run so I've really only known him behind a Toyota. Come next year, sitting in the 8 car at RCR with the bowtie on front is going to be a surreal feeling.

With that said, I can't wait to see that car in person at the Phoenix March race.

 

so wait.. hold up.. does that my KBM in the truck series going to Chevy as well?

 

Yes! Still a work in progress but according to KB, looks good

 

I imagine Thorsport will become the *factory* Toyota team again. The only thing about Toyota in the truck series is the nose & decals since the motors are all sealed SPEC powerplants now.

 

I am a fat ass and I gots me a Chevy truck... reported for being offensive.

 

Shame on David Wilson, TRD and Joe Gibbs for letting this happen. This will have a huge impact on Toyota's success in Nascar going forward. Where will the Toyota development drivers develop their skills to advance through the program without KBM? Thorsport does not have temporary drivers. They are anchor drivers with long term deals. What team in the Xfinity series has an open seat for these development drivers? Recently, it 's only been the 18 car for Gibbs. That lone car is not enough. Toyota had the problem of too many drivers and not enough seats before this happened and not with KBM moving to Chevy, this is amplified so much more now. Toyota and TRD should have just ponyed up the money to keep him in a Toyota. If I had to guess, David Wilson, TRD and Joe Gibbs didn't think this far ahead on this deal. Another guess I will throw out there is with them losing such an important stepping stone in the development program, its only a matter of time before Toyota axes being in Nascar all together. Joe Gibbs has a reputation for rushing drivers and failing completely. JJ Yeley, Joey Logano, Erik Jones.... that is just naming a few.

Personally, I will continue to be a Toyota race fan. While I realize its not Kyle Busch's fault this happened, I hope he never wins another race. He goes from one of the best teams in the series to a team that is in the back half of the top 10. I would have though Kyle would see what Brad Keselowski is dealing with over at Roush.

 

Several issues with this. Toyota did not have much control over what happens to Busch. They said so themselves because the contract is with JGR. The only way Toyota could have helped is to become the primary sponsor, by the sounds of it. I don't forsee Toyota corporate allowing David Wilson to spend $20M (the approximate hole in the budget Mars left) in addition to what they already spend, just to keep one driver. Especially when they barely sponsor races in the truck series.

I do believe Toyota will turn their attention to Thor Sport since they were kind of their #2 team. That or one of the many other Toyota truck teams that may need a little extra help with funding. Where Toyota development drivers such as John Hunter Nemecheck or Chandler Smith fill in remains to be seen.

As for Roush: RCR may be a B level team, but have been on the upswing thanks in large part to Reddick. We all know Dillon isn't exactly killing it out there. Furthermore, they are often outperforming JGR on a weekly basis. Roush is more of a C level team. They have huge cultural issues that Brad K is working to turn around. Furthermore: one of the check marks Busch has been trying to get in his career is running the Indy 500/Coke 600 double. JGR is the only team who said no to that. Even Penske and Toyota agreed to it. It is in his contract with RCR. RCR also offered long term guarantees and an option for Brexton. All things JGR was hesitant to do. After all, Joe Gibbs is a football coach and he knows business is business sometimes. You take a big risk signing older guys to long term deals, especially when there is talent waiting in the wings.

 

Kyle Busch has put Toyota on the map in Nascar in so many ways. If not for him, it would have been many years for them to have any success at all. So I feel should have just footed the bill for him and what he has done to get them to the point they have reached.

Without Reddick, RCR would be a c level team also. I don't think that the RCR cars outperform JGR weekly. That is far from the truth. This is one thing I will say I dislike about Gibbs. He does not let his driver have free will to drive other series or cars. Bell is awesome in a sprint car. But Gibbs has pulled the leash tight on that. It works for all the Hendrick cars though.

 

You all don't think JGR will fund, (continue to fund), truck series teams? There is a lot more to KBM than just Kyle Busch. Kyle leaving Toyota does not mean Toyota or Gibbs will walk away from the Truck Series. I also believe Gibbs will continue to fund at least one full time car in the ARCA Series.
It will be interesting to see how much Kyle does as far as his truck teams go. He is losing a lot of financial backing with this move.