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USA Today via Reuters

USA Today via Reuters

Spire Motorsports recently dropped a contentious video in which the legacy of Kyle Busch Motorsports was being painted over with their logo. Although dispirited, loyal fans of Kyle Busch were extremely curious about his future role in the racing team. Thankfully, FOX Sports’s Bob Pockrass has now produced all the exciting details.

The #8 driver of Richard Childress Racing is still likely to pilot select truck races next year. Additionally, Spire’s Cup driver for next season will sport a car number with a special connection to NASCAR history.

Despite the KBM sale, Kyle Busch has not hung up his Truck helmet

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The sale of Kyle Busch Motorsports, the most successful Truck Series team, felt like the end of an era. Well, millions of dollars worth of Spire Motorsports is about to begin a new one, with expansions and announcements made throughout this season. When the RCR driver, Kyle Busch, handed over the reins of KBM, the racing community expected major changes. Soon enough, information started pouring in about Zane Smith and Carson Hocevar joining Corey LaJoie as 2024 Cup drivers.

Smith won the 2022 Truck championship whereas Hocevar finished third this season after an impressive four wins. But the status of the former KBM Truck team was still shrouded in mystery. While Busch was going to remain in an advisory capacity, the exact nature of his racing schedule had not been specified even after KBM’s last Truck venture at the Phoenix Raceway. The only certainty is the closure of Kyle Busch’s chapter as a truck team owner. But he has been visibly grateful for the journey while it lasted.

On the flip side, clarifying next year’s Truck contenders, Bob Pockrass revealed, Truck lineup will be Nick Sanchez, Chase Purdy, and a third full-time truck with multiple drivers (as Kyle Busch has said he hopes to run five truck races for the organization).” The former #4 driver for KBM, Purdy, is expected to continue his previous role as a full-time racer. Meanwhile, according to Pockrass, Rookie of the season Sanchez will join Purdy after leaving Rev Racing. But that wasn’t all.

Pockrass also disclosed, Zane Smith car number for Cup next year will be 71 (crew chief TBA)” Interestingly, the number has been previously sported by many racing luminaries such as Bobby Labonte and Mario Andretti. But driving the #71 car in 589 races, Dave Marcis is most commonly associated with it. 

Despite the promising talent for next season, witnessing the symbolical erasure of KBM memories could only have uncovered mixed emotions for longtime race enthusiasts.

Watch this story: Kurt Busch: A Salute to Valor Beyond the Race Track

Spire Motorsports is ready to reinvent the halls of Kyle Busch Motorsports

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Kyle Busch has often been candid about the dream he shared with his wife Samantha. This took the shape of Kyle Busch Motorsports. Busch had also planned on racing alongside son Brexton in a KBM Truck in the future. But this is no longer possible. However, the team built by a family, raised another one in the form of their hardworking crew. 

As reported by kylebuschmotorsports.com, an emotional Busch had confessed during the sale announcement, “I owe a lot of gratitude to so many people, starting with Samantha and my family for believing in this dream that I had. It took countless hours by so many amazing people to make KBM the winningest team in Truck Series history.”

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The invaluable memories of their time together, their wins and accolades had earlier graced the walls of KBM. After the sale, it was natural for Spire Motorsports to change the decor to represent the new owners. But the actual footage of those historic images disappearing underneath a coat of paint gave an unsettling layer of finality to it.

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As the young generation ushers in a new era for Spire Motorsports, KBM’s 100 wins will forever be enshrined in the pages of NASCAR history.

Read More: Sickened Fans Ruthlessly Slam Spire Motorsports’ “Mean” Kyle Busch Motorsports Desecration