Imagine Kyle Busch continuing his run with the #18 at Joe Gibbs Racing and contending for championships and race wins. Now in a perfect world, this was the plan all along for Rowdy to continue his racing at JGR and retire with the team where he reached the highest of highs. However, the world of NASCAR is full of uncertainty and drama, and poor Kyle Busch found himself in the middle after the conclusion of the 2022 season.

There were rumors about Mars Inc. and M&M’s looking to cut ties with the driver and exit NASCAR. While the sponsorship issues were serious, no one thought that M&M’s departure would leave Busch in a ditch. After the $141.9 billion company pulled the plug on its NASCAR operation, it left Rowdy in deep waters. JGR did try to find a new primary partner for the #18 team in a potential deal with Oracle, but that didn’t go through.

Busch had no choice but to leave the team and join Richard Childress Racing in the absence of sponsors. And he was hurt about his team not trying hard enough to extend his stay in search of a new deal. “Did JGR try hard enough to sell me? My answer to that is no.” Busch said in an interview with Jordan Bianchi. He also wasn’t open to the idea of his team owner, Joe Gibbs, putting his own money to fund the program.

Ever since then, the No. 18 car hasn’t seen the daylight, but there’s a possibility that the iconic number could be back on track in 2025. Joe Gibbs Racing shared a special Christmas video with its fans on Instagram, where a cookie artist-designed special cookies celebrating the festive season and racing. Call it a coincidence or a potential hint of something big to come, but the cookie resembling a race car had the initials of the #18 printed over it.

Now it is hard to predict if Joe Gibbs Racing is planning to bring the #18 back on track next year. But this social media post was enough for the race fans to go gaga over it, and they started to make assumptions and theories on who would pilot the iconic car in 2025.

Who will pilot the iconic #18 JGR car next?

Usually, teams release the renders of the paint schemes for next year well in advance. We saw Hendrick Motorsports do just that by the end of 2024. So far, only Christopher Bell is the only driver to have released the new schemes for next season with Dewalt. And this was enough for this fan to believe that JGR is working behind the scenes to bring back the #18 car. “Just a thought: have we seen any renders for 2025 schemes yet for JGR? If not, maybe a number change could be forthcoming, but I doubt it at this point.”

Chase Briscoe is the newest recruit at JGR, replacing the veteran driver Martin Truex Jr. in the #19 team. However, with the latest developments, fans think that there could be changes within the team, and Briscoe could be the one piloting the flagship #18 entry in 2025. “Briscoe to the 18 would be dope. I think Bell has become too attached to the 20 in my mind, and 19 is more of an 88 then a 5 to Gibbs.”

Another factor that strongly links Chase Briscoe to the #18 car is the new deal JGR struck with Campbell Soup. Although Bass Pro Shops has pledged to support the #19 entry for the majority of races next season, there’s no confirmation on the number of races. This is where the new sponsorship deal could perhaps come into play and fund the return of the #18 car with Briscoe. Rumors are already floating online that the former SHR driver could be the top pick for Campbell Soup if they are open to funding a race team in 2025. “Maybe the 19 becomes the 18 with Campbell’s soup also hopping on board?”

Although Truex Jr. has called it quits from full-time racing, he has confirmed that he will be back on a partial schedule next season. He still has his eye set on the Daytona 500 trophy. There is still no confirmation regarding who will support the veteran driver’s partial run. But this fan believes that the #18 will be back with MTJ at the Daytona 500 race. “MTJ in the #18 with Interstate Batteries for the 500?”

The speculation spree didn’t end there. We all know the #18 car is special to Joe Gibbs, as this car has seen the most success. Bobby Labonte was the first driver who kicked off the championship triumph with the car in 2000. Tony Stewart then added to this success with his two title wins in 2002 and 2005. The most recent championship wins came with Kyle Busch in the last decade in the 2015 and 2019 seasons. The best of the best drivers have been able to reach the pinnacle of NASCAR racing by piloting the #18 car, and perhaps Denny Hamlin could be the next driver to do the same. “DH to the 18 in ‘25,” another fan replied.

Who do you think should be next in line to take command of the #18 JGR car if the team plans to bring it back in 2025?