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NASCAR’s Winningest Truck Decked Up for Its Final Ride as KBM Prodigy Prepares to Honor Kyle Busch’s Legacy

Published 10/28/2023, 3:08 PM EDT

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The time has come for Kyle Busch to draw the curtains on his successful Truck Series team, Kyle Busch Motorsports. 100 race wins is no small feat, but Busch’s passion project turned out to be as unstoppable as its owner. Over 40 of those belonged to Rowdy’s #51 truck.

With the sale of KBM to Spire Motorsports finalized, the historic truck would set sail on its final voyage in Phoenix with an electrifying new look. And its young driver could not contain his excitement.

Kyle Busch Motorsports’s No. 51 driver wants one last triumph for the outgoing team

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For the season finale at the Phoenix Raceway, Kyle Busch has partnered up with a brand that truly values its iconic legacy. Seamlessly transitioning from NASCAR coverage to racecar sponsorship, the popular brand of ‘Rubbin is Racing’ would feature on the very last race of the #51 Chevrolet Silverado with an iconic paint scheme. The podcast host Michael ‘Large’ McCarthy could scarcely believe the exceptional privilege bestowed upon them. He exclaimed, “This is the truck!”

Large further said, “Not only is it the end of an era if you want to say that, but it’s also almost like we’re parking one of the better trucks to ever be put on a track. We’re kind of honored with this.” The truck racer who will be fortunate enough to drive it past the finish line could not agree more.

After two seasons with GMS Racing, 23-year-old Jack Wood got the opportunity to run a part-time schedule with Kyle Busch this season. After two Top 10 finishes, Wood got to experience his team owner drive home the 100th sensational win at the Pocono Raceway. Now the truck driver wishes to present a 101st farewell win to the champion racer. In a conversation with Large and Spider, Wood expressed, “Hopefully we can take the last win for KBM and take it from 100 wins to 101.”

He continued further, “The 51 truck has a special place at KBM but also a special place for Kyle [Busch] as well. It being 51 is Rowdy Burns from Days of Thunder and that’s where Kyle got his nickname and it’s got a lot of history behind it and obviously, it’s a proven successful truck.” Addressing the collaboration with Rubbin Is Racing, Wood commented, “I think it’s a cool opportunity for really the both of us to have a truck that looks as sick as the one we do and have that be the last race for the 51.”.

Watch this story: Kyle Busch Motorsports: A Future in Question

Kyle Busch might have attained the 100th win, but this year’s championship contender presented him with KBM’s first win.

Denny Hamlin snatched an unexpected victory for his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate

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Apart from Kyle Busch, the #51 truck has been piloted by a slew of Cup aces. From Christopher Bell, and Martin Truex Jr to William Byron, several championship contenders this season have graced it on one or more occasions. But KBM earned its first checkered at the hands of Busch’s former teammate Denny Hamlin.

Joe Gibbs Racing’s #11 driver drove the #51 Truck with Toyota at the Martinsville Speedway. The very same short track oval that would decide the JGR driver’s Cup Series fate this weekend. But in 2012, Hamlin started last and overcame all odds to drive behind race leader Matt Crafton. With 5 laps to go, Hamlin took over the lead from Crafton. 

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The spectators could only watch with amazement as Hamlin cruised past the finish line and took KBM along with him. The cornerstone he placed was expanded into an empire by the team owner. On its last day, Kyle Busch would remember that first victory while watching Jack Wood attempt the 101st for him in Rowdy’s #51 truck. 

Kyle Busch Incorporates Big Changes for Life Beyond NASCAR as He Begins Liquidating

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Written by:

Parika Singh

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Parika Singh is a NASCAR Author at EssentiallySports. Her combined love for writing and motorsports drew her to the world of sports journalism, where she fell in love with the thrill, unpredictability, and charisma of covering racers and race tracks. Her stories have the right blend of research and storytelling that really make her stand out as a Motorsports Journalist.
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Edited by:

Ariva Debnath