Kyle Busch Loses Out to All-Time NASCAR Fan-Favorite in JGR #18 GOAT Debate

Who did it better? When it comes to fan choices for their favorite drivers, things are bound to get a bit interesting. Moreover, a Twitter battle is the perfect way for fans to prove their opinions. And this time there’s definitely a debacle between the two fanbases!

In a recent post on Twitter, a NASCAR enthusiast asked ‘Who is the best driver to race the JGR #18 car in Cup full-time?’ But this tweet ignited a fan battle. With many taking sides with NASCAR’s all-time fan-favorite J.J. Yeley, some others joined the Kyle Busch camp.

J.J. Yeley currently competes full-time in the Xfinity Series. However, he drove the #18 during the 2006 and 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. Being one of the few drivers to clinch a USAC Triple Crown, Yeley turned out to be a fan-favorite.

However, soon a Twitter war erupted when Kyle Busch fans jumped in to defend their favorite athlete. Busch currently drives the #18 for Joe Gibbs Racing. The two-time Cup Series champion is nicknamed Rowdy for his driving style. And currently, he is in the last year of his contract with JGR. This means he won’t be driving the #18 after his departure from the team.

READ MORE: Kyle Busch Banking On “Fresh Start” With RCR After JGR “Aggravations and Mistakes”

However, it is clear that J.J. Yeley fans outnumbered the Busch fans. Apart from Kyle Busch and J.J. Yeley, some fans also voted for Bobby Labonte as their favorite #18 driver. Moreover, a few of them were upset with the question as it only asked about the full-time drivers.

Why would Kyle Busch not drive the #18 anymore?

Kyle Busch has signed a multi-year contract with Richard Childress Racing. After his long-time association with Joe Gibbs Racing, the driver could not strike a deal with the team owing to a lack of sponsorship. Busch’s sponsor, Mars Incorporation pulled away from their deal and said that they won’t be returning with the #18 Toyota next season.

Moreover, JGR could not find a new sponsor for Busch. And hence, the two-time champion moved to Richard Childress Racing (RCR). It is known that at RCR, Busch will be driving the #8 Chevrolet. With his 15-year association with Toyota and Joe Gibbs Racing coming to an end, Busch is hoping for a fresh start at his new team.

WATCH THIS STORY: NASCAR Spotter Sheds Light on the “Great Opportunity” Toyota Could Have with Kyle Busch & Kurt Busch

Kyle Busch will be driving beside Austin Dillon and Tyler Reddick at RCR. At present, Busch has been eliminated from the 2022 Cup Series and is striving for a better performance next year.