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BRISTOL, TENNESSEE – SEPTEMBER 17: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Toyota, walks onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 17, 2022 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)
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BRISTOL, TENNESSEE – SEPTEMBER 17: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Toyota, walks onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 17, 2022 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)
Kyle Busch will be making a fresh start in the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series. After 15 years at the Joe Gibbs Racing stable, Busch has decided to part ways. He confirmed in September that he has signed a contract with Richard Childress Racing. Equally exciting for his fans is the fact that he will be chasing quite a few milestones. 2023 might see him overtake Richard Petty, with whom he is currently tied for the most consecutive seasons (18) with a win.
Kyle Busch has led 18,908 laps in The NASCAR Cup Series. He needs to lead 1092 more to be the only Current Full-time Cup driver with 20000 Laps led in up #NASCAR
— Daniel Kriete (@DanielKriete4) December 14, 2022
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Moreover, another impressive accolade is beckoning the 2-time Cup Series champion in 2023. As it turns out, Busch has led 18,908 laps in the NASCAR Cup Series. In other words, he needs to lead in just 1092 more laps to hit the 20,000 mark—a feat that only seven racers in the history of the Cup Series have managed to achieve. If he does manage to breach the mark, he will be the only active driver to do so.
Who can challenge Kyle Busch in this department?
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Since we’re talking about current drivers, there will be some who could challenge Busch in the future. This includes the likes of Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick, though they are far behind him at present. Harvick currently has 15,901 laps as a race leader under his belt, with Hamlin following at 13,354 laps.
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KANSAS CITY, KANSAS – SEPTEMBER 11: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Toyota, walks the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on September 11, 2022 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Busch has been in the Cup Series since 2003. He raced for Hendrick Motorsports from 2003 to 2007, winning four races in the process. From 2008 onwards, he joined the Joe Gibbs Racing organization and the rest is history. With JGR and his now iconic #18 car, he amassed 56 career wins.
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Now, he is expected to start a brand new chapter with RCR and fans are excited. Already, there have been some positive notes from Busch that he cannot wait for the new season to kick off. Of course, he would be aware that nobody will hand him accolades on a platter; he will have to fight hard to clinch them.
WATCH THIS STORY: Kyle Busch Slammed for “Sh*t” NASCAR Announcement as Jimmie Johnson Tease Fails to Save the Day
