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via Imago

via Imago

Yes, the ongoing NASCAR Cup Series season has been incredibly frustrating for Kyle Busch. But does that justify his comments? Despite being under contract with Richard Childress Racing, the 39-year-old refused to throw cold water on the possibility of returning to Hendrick Motorsports or Joe Gibbs Racing. However, NASCAR legend Kevin Harvick has dismissed Kyle Busch’s hopes of returning to his former teams, questioning whether a reunion is even a feasible opportunity.

Here’s why Kevin Harvick dismisses Kyle Busch’s future talk

Kyle Busch is entertaining, and the thought of going to another team is understandable. After having a frustrating season so far, there is a real possibility of him not making it to the playoffs. Currently, in 37 races without a win, this is the longest of Busch’s career, with several poor results, including his second DNF in the last three starts. However, his current deal with Richard Childress Racing has the option to extend until 2025, which means his comments could put both Busch and his current team in a very uncomfortable situation for a long time.

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Clearly, Kevin Harvick isn’t buying into the idea that Kyle Busch has any possibility of a reunion, particularly with Rick Hendrick. Speaking on Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour podcast about Rowdy’s dynamics with Joe Gibbs and precisely noting his relationship with HMS, Harvick said, “He threw out the Hendrick piece of it, too. I mean, he basically got thrown out of Hendrick, right? When he was driving the Xfinity car and everything they had going on there. So I’m very confused. I’m so confused about making those comments about driving at Gibbs and Hendrick, because I just, I don’t know what that does for you in making your situation better at RCR.”

Further iterating his major concerns, RCR, and his team, Harvick said, “His team and the position that it puts them in just not being 100% sure that in your answer, in what you say, because the perception is gonna be 9/10 of what you think. Now the door’s open. The door has been blown completely wide open as to what all this means for Kyle Busch and RCR. Is he peeking over his shoulder, looking to go somewhere else? But I personally don’t see a scenario where he goes back to Hendrick or Gibbs.”

Harvick doesn’t understand why Kyle Busch would make those comments unless the driver is extremely unhappy with the situation he is in. It seems Busch has left the door open.

Kyle Busch spent 15 successful years at Joe Gibbs Racing, which eventually ended because of a sponsorship shortage and Joe Gibbs’s grandson emerging as a prospect. Later, when Mars Inc. announced its intention to leave NASCAR as a sponsor, the consensus was that Joe Gibbs Racing would find a replacement sponsor without any problems. And, when that didn’t happen, ‘Rowdy bid farewell to the team that won him his 2015 and 2019 titles to join Richard Childress Racing.

However, his time at Richard Childress Racing hasn’t been the fairytale he hoped it would be. After being one of the sport’s most successful teams at the height of Dale Earnhardt’s career, the team never reclaimed those heights after The Intimidator’s tragic demise in 2001. From pit crew problems and mechanical failures to driver mistakes, Kyle Busch has faced it all this season, which has compounded his frustrations.

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Is Kyle Busch hoping NASCAR’s shuffling will help him?

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A change of scenery might be exactly what Kyle Busch needs after the season he is having with Richard Childress Racing. The 39-year-old has been rumored to return to Joe Gibbs Racing ever since Martin Truex Jr. announced his retirement last week. With Stewart-Haas Racing closing down and other teams expanding throughout NASCAR, there will be plenty of shuffling around in the future. The question is, will Kyle Busch be one of them?

Speaking to Bob Pockrass of FOX before the race in Iowa, Kyle Busch was asked about his future. Rowdy replied, “I would say anything is possible, always. Certainly, if I was welcomed I would go back, if Hendrick welcomed me back I’d go back. But right now I’m at RCR with my group of guys and the deal I have right now in place. So, we’re trying to work and build this program and make RCR great again.”

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It remains to be seen if either Joe Gibbs Racing or Hendrick Motorsport will want Kyle Busch back. With Chase Briscoe being heavily linked to the JGR seat, it’s unlikely that a move to either team is feasible at the moment. In all likelihood, Busch will remain at Richard Childress Racing until 2025, which is when his contract expires. However, Kyle Busch publicly inviting his former teams to take him back will undoubtedly leave a bitter taste for Richard Childress Racing.

Do you think Kyle Busch will remain at RCR next season? Let us know in the comments!