Kyle Busch Receives $45,000 Worth Signing Bonus in Nod to Infamous ‘Punchgate’ as Dale Earnhardt Jr’s Prophecy Comes True

After months and months of uncertainty and speculation, the future of Kyle Busch is now clear. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver for the #18 team will switch his saddle with the #8 team at Richard Childress Racing in 2023.

This was a move that not many saw coming a few months ago, one which particularly gained traction in the last few weeks, and strong reports of being done in the few days.

However, there was a certain someone, the ultimate NASCAR insider who ‘broke’ Busch’s move to the #8 way before than anyone did.

It was Dale Earnhardt Jr.

As soon as Busch’s move was announced, his future boss Richard Childress handed him a signing bonus. And signifying the importance of the move, the moment, and what’s to come, the bonus too was a special one.

A watch.

Not just any ordinary watch.

A Rolex Daytona worth around $45,000.

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Kyle Busch and Richard Childress have set their differences behind them

Ever since rumors and now confirmed reports of Kyle Busch and Richard Childress teaming up began to emerge, talk began of the controversial incident between the two in the past.

In 2011, Richard Childress got in a physical altercation with Kyle Busch in Kansas, something which in retrospect, becomes an even bigger point than what it already is.

However, according to Busch, what’s behind is behind now.

“You grow up, and you work through things. It was fine the first time I sat down with him,” the JGR driver said ahead of the recent playoff race at Kansas. “Who is to say he hasn’t punched me again in any of these conversations?”

Childress himself had recently said some positive things about the two-time Cup champion along with emphasizing that he too has put the past in the past.

“He and I have talked. We put all our differences behind us a while back,” the team owner had said.

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