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DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 04: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Toyota, walks onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 04, 2022 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)
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DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 04: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Toyota, walks onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 04, 2022 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)
Toyota has been on a roll when it comes to losing most of its talented drivers to other teams. The barrel started rolling way before the news of Kyle Busch, but that just adds it to the long list of talents lost from the system. Now to add further injury, yet another TRD driver departs for greener pastures with a Chevy Xfinity team.
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If names such as Kyle Larson, Kyle Busch, Noah Gragson, Hailie Deegan, and several others were not enough, Chandler Smith recently announced that he would be making the jump to Chevrolet-backed Kaulig Racing in the Xfinity Series. Clinching yet another massive blow to TRD in the process. While speaking with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio regarding his decision, the young driver stated, “I’m 20 years old. I have time on my side, I feel like.”
However, he made it clear that he was appreciative of the hard work Toyota had put in to get him where he was. He also mentioned that there were pros and cons to every decision while talking about JGR and stated that to be one of the reasons to make him move into Kaulig Racing. He called his new team to be a powerhouse outfit in Xfinity and would also rise up pretty far one day in the Cup Series.
Fans react to Toyota losing several drivers
This isn’t the first time Toyota has lost good talents from its roster, and perhaps would not be the last time as well.
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TALLADEGA, ALABAMA – OCTOBER 02: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Toyota, walks onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Cup Series YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 02, 2022, in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
According to NASCAR journalist, Dustin Albino, “Other once-Toyota drivers that have departed recently: Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards, William Byron, Erik Jones, Daniel Suarez, Todd Gilliland, Harrison Burton, Noah Gragson, Austin Hill, Brandon Jones, Daniel Hemric, Riley Herbst, Brett Moffitt, Hailie Deegan.“
Another tough loss for Toyota and big gain by Chevy.
Smith said there was an option to go to JGR in 2023 (presumably the Xfinity Series), but still elected to jump ship. https://t.co/MesGmFrK1V
— Dustin Albino (@DustinAlbino) October 5, 2022
Maybe, just maaaybe. Toyota needs to back more teams.
Just throwing that out there. https://t.co/DQkAtDHXYD
— Daniel McFadin (@danielmcfadin) October 5, 2022
I've always stated that JGR and KBM were factory teams! Now that Kyle's going to the Bowties, Chandler saw the writing on the wall!
— The Artful Roger. Diamond of many Facets. (@Rojodi) October 5, 2022
TRD needs another Xfinity team that has more than one car. Also would be cool to see them help Halmar & Friesen out a little more. It’s hard to go anywhere in Toyota Development when there’s like 4 cars max they can go to in Xfinity.
— Matthew Breault (@MatthewBreault7) October 5, 2022
Only like 3 or 4 of those were TRD development drivers. You forgot the most infamous loss, Kyle Larson.
— Scott (@skendall25) October 5, 2022
If you throw enough wet noodles at the wall you’re bound to have a couple stick. https://t.co/qQyCRmerBn
— Collin Fern (@CollinMFern) October 5, 2022
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Do you agree that Toyota has been losing far too much talent? Let us know what you think they should do to stop the talent drain from taking place.
Written by
Edited by
Nizamul Haque Bhuyan