Kyle Busch Proposition Leaves NASCAR Insider Baffled as Tony Stewart’s ‘Victory’ Raises More Questions

It is official that Ryan Preece would be racing in SHR instead of Cole Custer. However, there is something that baffles the NASCAR insider, Brett Griffin. He recently gave his take on why Stewart Haas Racing did not go for someone like Kyle Busch, especially when they had the opportunity to do so.

On a Door Bumper Clear Christmas special podcast, Brett Griffin said, “Like if I’m Stewart-Haas and I look at this driver change, I don’t understand why you didn’t go after a Kyle Bush. Or I know you were in a unique situation given your contract. But after a Tyler Reddick, like, if you want an ‘A’ guy in your car with this team historically has, i.e. had Kurt Bush. Like, Why are we, why are we in this situation?”

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“But Ryan Preece has four more starts in Cup than Cole Custer does. So 115 total starts. He has two top fives and nine top tens. Now I realize he hasn’t been in great stuff. But again, if we’re looking at this on paper. There ain’t a big upgrade. It’s not like you went from a ‘C’ guy to an ‘A’ guy. You went from a ‘C’ guy to a ‘C’ guy with potential.“

Stewart-Haas missed an opportunity with Kyle Busch

Earlier this year, Kyle Busch‘s future in NASCAR was a massive debate. With his main sponsor exiting the sport, he had no idea where he would end up next. The hopes to retain a seat at Joe Gibbs Racing were diminishing by the day. There were several opportunities for other teams to get someone as talented as Busch. However, in the end, it was Richard Childress Racing who sealed the two-time Cup Series champion.

This may have been a significant missed opportunity for Stewart-Haas Racing. They could have capitalized by taking Busch on board in place of Cole Custer. According to Brett Griffin, that would have been an upgrade. However, as it turned out, SHR made no move to try securing Busch for a possible seat. Instead, they gravitated towards signing Ryan Preece to replace Custer.

Earlier this year, SHR co-owner Tony Stewart had an argument with Gene Haas over whom to bring in for the Cup Series seat. Haas had maintained that Cole Custer should be given an extra season to prove himself. However, Stewart argued that Ryan Preece should be called up, demoting Custer. And in the end, it was Stewart whose decision was accepted.

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It might have been a good enough deal to get Preece in that seat. However, they sure missed a major opportunity to play the long game. Had they brought in someone like Busch, they might have received a significant upgrade over the likes of Cole Custer or Ryan Preece.