Tag: Kyle Busch Motorsports

Kyle Busch will still be involved in the Craftsman Truck Series team he founded next season, even after selling all its assets to Spire Motorsports.

Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway, a few days after the sale was announced, Busch described his future as a consultant for Spire, while also continuing to run the five races he’s eligible for in the series to keep working with partner Zariz Transport.

“It’ll still be worthwhile for me to see that team succeed with all the people and everything we’ve had there over the years,” Busch said. “I’m excited about those that will stay and getting a key fob that turns off at 6 p.m.”

Kyle Busch Motorsports was founded in 2010 and has 100 victories in the series to date. The organization has won two driver championships with Erik Jones and Christopher Bell and a record seven owner’s championships.

Busch sold the race team, which fields two entries, the 77,000-square-foot race shop in Mooresville, North Carolina, as well as Rowdy Manufacturing — a chassis-building company that is housed in the race shop.

Jeff Dickerson, a former spotter for Busch, and T.J. Puchyr co-own Spire Motorsports. The organization debuted in the Cup Series in 2019 and now fields two full-time entries. Spire began fielding a Truck Series entry on a part-time basis last season.

“I just feel I haven’t been able to give it as much of my devoted attention as it needs — being around as much with (son) Brexton racing, and family stuff, and me racing, and trying to focus on that and being with the Cup team,” Busch said. “There were some conversations that happened with the crew chiefs that kind of made me start thinking about it.

“Then [Dickerson] showed up at the door and we had a conversation. The turn of events happened really, really fast [and I’m] excited about the future of it.”

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The veteran driver made it clear that he wasn’t looking to sell his team, though. An opportunity presented itself over the summer predicating that step.

“We had a great deal this year with Chevrolet and Rev Racing and Max [Siegel] and all the guys over there to carry on with [Nick] Sanchez and, of course, the Chase Purdy deal as well,” Busch said. “We were set. We were fine. We were ready to go into next year. This all just kind of came about a month ago, maybe a couple of months ago, where we started talking about forming an alliance and working on chassis and continuing to service them with Rowdy Manufacturing and things like that — what that could look like — and trying to broaden the scope of that to all Chevy teams.

“Then I think it was (Dickerson’s) bright idea, or he was like, ‘Why are you even doing this? Why don’t we just do it? Why don’t we just take it over?’ And I’m like, ‘Well, OK. Make it worth my while.’ That’s kind of how it happened and it literally happened very, very quick,” Busch said. “Time flew by and rumors flew fast, and we obviously made our announcement this week.”

Busch has no regrets about his time as a team owner in the series and said the investment was worth it.

“I feel like a lot of the personal relationships and things over the years, whether it’s been Eric Phillips, Rick Ren, Rudy Fugle, all of that stuff…” said Busch. “Chris Gabehart is another one from our stable. But I think we’ve had a great ride and a great run, and it’s been worth it in a…sense.

“I’ve had a lot of fun racing super late models, racing trucks, winning late models, winning trucks. I’ve got a storage facility now full or needing to get one full of show cars and things of past memories that I’ve accomplished and cars that I’ve accomplished big wins in. I would say yes.”

Kyle Busch has sold his Craftsman Truck Series team and manufacturing company, Rowdy Manufacturing, to Spire Motorsports.

The sale includes the assets of Busch’s race team, the 77,000-square-foot race shop in Mooresville, North Carolina, and the chassis building operation (which is housed in the race shop). Kyle Busch Motorsports debuted in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2010.

“When we started the Truck Series team back in 2010, I never imagined that we would be able to win 100 races with 18 different drivers and that one day I’d be racing in the Cup Series alongside so many of the drivers that I once mentored at KBM,” Busch said. “I owe a lot of gratitude to so many people, starting with (wife) Samantha and my family, for believing in this dream that I had. It took countless hours by so many amazing people to make KBM the winningest team in Truck Series history.

“I will always appreciate everyone that walked through the doors and gave their all to make this such a successful organization. Not only has it been the people that were employed here, but it’s also the families that supported them while they worked long hours and traveled on the weekend, sacrificing time at home and missing family events. And I certainly can’t say enough thanks to Toyota for the first 13 years of support and to Chevrolet for stepping up to the plate this year. Due to their commitment and that of our great sponsors, we’ve been able to compete at the highest levels and hang a lot of banners.

“I’m at a different point in my life now than I was back in 2010. My family has grown, my Cup Series team changed this year, and our son’s racing schedule has become as demanding as my own. It’s important to me to be able to spend more time with my family and my No. 8 team at Richard Childress Racing. It’ll be hard to walk away from the amazing facility that we’ve built. I’ll miss walking the shop floor talking with our employees, hosting our fan days in the lobby, and spending countless hours there ensuring its success. However, I know at this point in my life and in my career that this is the correct decision.”

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Kyle Busch Motorsports fields two full-time trucks, with Chase Purdy its primary driver in the No. 4 Chevrolet and the No. 51 split amongst various drivers. Busch was victorious in two of his five starts, including earning the organization’s 100th victory at Pocono Raceway.

In its tenure, Kyle Busch Motorsports has won seven owners’ championships and two drivers’ championships (Erik Jones 2015 and Christopher Bell 2017).

Spire Motorsports has fielded a Truck Series entry on a limited basis since last season. William Byron won for the team at Martinsville Speedway last year, and Kyle Larson was victorious at North Wilkesboro Speedway earlier this season (pictured top, with Byron’s KBM Truck).

“I’m confident that our assets and employees are in good hands moving forward,” Bush said. “I don’t see the winning ways changing at all. I’ve known the Spire guys for a long time and their recent investments in NASCAR show their commitment to success.”