Kyle Busch left Joe Gibbs Racing after a partnership that lasted a decade and a half. Busch had been with JGR since 2008 and had an incredible record with the team, winning two Cup Series championships and around 50 races. So what went wrong? Why did the association come to an end?

Well, according to Denny Hamlin, Busch’s departure was inevitable due to his “impossible” demands. As per him,  Busch’s demands would have spelled the end for Joe Gibbs Racing if they had acquiesced.

Denny Hamlin on JGR’s decision-making process for staying in business

In a recent episode of his podcast ‘Actions Detrimental’, Denny Hamlin revealed, “You know, they lost a ton, you know…that company would cease to exist if they had to pay Kyle what he was demanding, especially after losing, you know, Mars,” Hamlin said, referring to Busch’s primary sponsor’s exit NASCAR after the ’22 season.

The move was a significant blow to JGR. “It just would be impossible. It would be a detriment to all the JGR teams,” Denny Hamlin added. “They had to make a business decision to stay in business, right?”

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Busch’s departure was a tremendous blow to Toyota, which had been with the driver since he joined JGR, powering his all but four of his 60 career Cup wins.

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JGR and Toyota Appreciate Kyle Busch’s Contributions at the team

Toyota could do nothing to find Busch a slot in its fleet, which included JGR and 23XI. Hence, Busch was able to move to rival Chevrolet. While JGR and Toyota will undoubtedly miss Busch, the driver’s contributions to the team and brand will not be forgotten.

“Kyle has been a major part of our history and success here at Joe Gibbs Racing. We are thankful for all his contributions to our organization over the years,” said Joe Gibbs, the team’s founder, as per fox8.com.

“When you look at all that he has accomplished already, it is truly remarkable, and we know someday we will be celebrating his Hall of Fame induction.”

“We’re disappointed and saddened that his future won’t continue to be with Team Toyota,” the manufacturer said in a statement.

Kyle Busch’s departure from Joe Gibbs Racing was not due to a falling out or a lack of loyalty. It was a business decision that had to be made to keep the team afloat after the loss of its long-standing partnership with Mars Inc. Busch’s “impossible” demands would have been a significant burden on JGR, which had no choice but to let the driver go.

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Nevertheless, Busch’s legacy at JGR is secure, and he may undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest drivers in the sport’s history. What are your thoughts about the driver’s move to Richard Childress Racing?