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“They Used to Have This Sort of Facial Hair Thing” – Dale Earnhardt Jr. Believes Kyle Busch Is Free of Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Shackles & Will Be Even More “Outspoken”

Published 02/12/2023, 8:00 AM EST

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It was heartbreaking for motorsport fans to know Kyle Busch splitting ways with Joe Gibbs Racing. This ended a 15-year relationship between the team and the driver. The reason behind the split was failing to come to terms with a new contract. While it was disheartening, Busch wasted little time in joining Richard Childress Racing for the 2023 season.

The 37-year-old gave some amazing memories to fans while racing for Joe Gibbs Racing. He not only won the NASCAR Cup Series twice but also built Toyota’s most successful truck team. Interestingly, Kyle Busch drove for Hendrick Motorsports for five years before Joe Gibbs Racing. While both these teams have been powerhouses, there is an unsaid advantage in Busch joining Richard Childress Racing.

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. speaks about how Kyle Busch can thrive at RCR

Speaking on his ‘The Dale Jr. Download’ podcast, Dale Earnhardt Jr. discussed how it will be different for Busch in 2023. He said, “It will be interesting to see Kyle Busch this year because he is out from under whatever restrictions he may have felt at Joe Gibbs Racing. Joe Gibbs Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, Penske, they all have a perception, expectation, right?”

“They you know Penske with the white shirts, the black pants, you know everything tucked in, everything pressed. HMS you know they used to have this sort of facial hair thing.”

READ MORE – Richard Childress Racing Seemingly Bending Backwards to Make Sure Kyle Busch Is Comfortable

The 48-year-old adds“Am I making sense though that there are a lot of these that sort of have you know you got it to tighten it up? Kyle is free of whatever those restrictions may have been right and now I think will be a little more outspoken… I think even more so he’s going to be like he’s pretty much you know got free reign over however he wants to conduct business in my mind racing for Richard Childress Racing. Richard Childress Racing is not going to tell him how to act.”

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Co-host Mike Davis added, “No, Richard Childress is not gonna. Well, if he tells him how to act it may be the antithesis of what the other guys would have had but I just never took Kyle Busch as somebody that is you know being careful on what he says.”

What does it mean for Richard Childress Racing?

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Kyle Busch joining Richard Childress Racing can only mean one thing, improvement. Despite qualifying for the playoffs 10 times since 2015, no driver has managed to finish higher than 11. Busch can certainly help change that. Additionally, his winning mentality and aggression will definitely reflect upon his teammate Austin Dillon. The 32-year-old can surely start by repeating his 2018 Daytona 500 triumph this season.

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RCR’s backing can instigate Busch to be more outspoken, but he will have to be careful with his words. He will have to maintain discipline and not get involved in any unnecessary duels. He was lucky to escape any disciplinary action by NASCAR after his Mexico arrest. Any such action will neither help his nor RCR’s cause in the future.

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WATCH THIS STORY – Kyle Busch’s wife Samantha questioned over her outfit choices

There is a huge responsibility on Busch’s shoulders this season. With a positive start at the Los Angeles Coliseum, surely better times are to come. It will be interesting to see how ‘Rowdy’ Busch goes about in the 2023 campaign. Can he bring the championship back at Richard Childress Racing? Only time can tell.

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Written by:

Priyank Harikrishna Mithani

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Edited by:

Ajinkya Aswale