Has Kyle Busch received an offer he can’t refuse for KBM?
It would likely take a significant incentive to entice the 38-year-old owner of Kyle Busch Motorsports—one of the most successful Truck Series franchises in NASCAR history—to sell the organization.
But the two-time Cup champion’s life has changed dramatically since opening the doors of KBM in 2010. With a new job, two children, including son Brexton, and his burgeoning racing career, now might be the perfect time.
“I think if the right Unicorn ever shows up, there could be an opportunity there,” Busch told Catchfence.com. “But as far as what’s been happening over the last five years or six years, you know, I wouldn’t say that those are out there or exist.
“But no, not yet.”
What would entice Busch to cut ties with an organization he built from scratch, an enterprise responsible for two truck titles, 100 wins, and the contribution to Toyota winning nine of the last 14 Manufacturer’s Championships?
That number appears to be somewhere in the ballpark of $25 million. Rumors swirled at Bristol—amidst news of acquiring a third charter—that Spire Motorsports was in the market to expand its truck series footprint.
Over the last decade, KBM has won two truck titles and 100 races. More important, the organization has launched the careers of Bubba Wallace, Erik Jones, Christopher Bell, William Byron, Noah Gragson, and Harrison Burton.
Before moving to Richard Childress Racing this season, Busch was instrumental in developing young talent for Toyota Racing as aspiring racers rose through the NASCAR ranks.
“He was certainly instrumental and had a big part of why I’m here today,” Bell said. “He’s probably–I don’t know if mentor is the right word–but a guy that I respect the most in the series.
“He’s the man.”
KBM provided opportunities for champions Kimi Raikkonen and Kurt Busch to showcase their talent in the Xfinity Series, and John Hunter Nemechek to rebuild his resume on the truck side. Kurt Busch remains the sole driver to win in a KBM-prepared Xfinity Series car.
“He taught me a lot of little things,” Byron said of Kyle Busch. “I think he was hard on me in the beginning. I thought that was good. As our relationship progressed, he was like, ‘I don’t have as much to teach you. You’re picking it up and showing results.’
“So I think early on, he was pretty hard on me. But we developed a good chemistry from there.”
Byron, who won on Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway to advance to the Round of 8, is grateful to have Busch back in the Chevy camp.
“Now working with Kyle back on the Chevy side, we get along together really well,” Byron said. “We’re similar in a lot of ways. His personality comes across as a lot more direct than I am but as far as his feedback and what we’re looking for, I feel like we’re pretty similar.
“So when I was at KBM, I could drive Kyle’s setups and show up close. They never had to create off-sets for me or balance changes. They just kind of put Kyle’s stuff in and then fine-tuned it. I feel like I developed habits based on that. I think that’s why we get along and see things similar.”
KBM operates from an impressive 77,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility in Mooresville, N.C.
But beyond the bricks and mortar, the main value of KBM is the company’s namesake, Kyle Busch. While he is still providing a turnkey operation for up-and-coming drivers, Toyota’s previous support of the program cannot be overlooked. And the United Auto Workers strike against General Motors will only lessen KBM’s resources from Detroit.
Busch has always been able to juggle KBM and his day job in Cup, but Richard Childress Racing isn’t a “plug-n-play” franchise compared with Joe Gibbs Racing where the drivers can just show up on the weekends and expect to contend for wins and championships.
Charity begins at home, not at the race shop. Now might be the perfect time for Busch to put KBM on the chopping block.
Follow Lee Spencer on Twitter @CandiceSpencer or email her at: [email protected].
