It has been reported that Kyle Busch will join Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin in the Joe Gibbs Racing stables for 2008.
Though it is currently unofficial, Kyle Busch is expected to join Joe Gibbs Racing in 2008 replacing J.J. Yeley in the 18 Chevrolet, or possibly Toyota. Ever since it was announced that Dale Earnhardt Jr would replace Kyle Busch at Hendrick Motorsports, the focus has been shifted to the 22 year old driver from Las Vegas, Nevada, and who he will drive for in 2008.
Over the past few weeks, it was widely speculated that Kyle Busch was headed over to Dale Earnhardt Inc. There was also interest from Evernham Motorsports, now Gillette Evernham Motorsports, Chip Ganassi Racing, and Richard Childress Racing. But it appears as if Joe Gibbs has won the Kyle Busch sweepstakes.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out, having Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch on the same team, considering that those two drivers arguably receive the most negative media coverage of any other driver in the garage. It is not clear as to who will sponsor Busch, however, Interstate Batteries has been the sponsor of the 18 car ever since Joe Gibbs Racing made its debut in NASCAR back in 1992.
In addition to the Kyle Busch rumors, other rumors surrounding Joe Gibbs Racing have been present over the past few weeks. It is no secret that Toyota is in desperate need of star power, so why not target the second best team in NASCAR, statistically speaking. Unofficially, Joe Gibbs Racing could become Toyota's flagship operation.
So what happens to J.J. Yeley? Yeley was signed as a developmental driver at Joe Gibbs Racing in 2003, before Denny Hamlin came into the picture, however, it is Hamlin that has become the star that Yeley was expected to become. For some reason, Yeley has not found that chemistry at Joe Gibbs Racing that Hamlin has found with the 11 team. So in this 'what have you done for me lately' world of NASCAR, Yeley will likely be bounced from his ride in order to make room for Kyle Busch. I read where Yeley may end up at Wood Brothers Racing, but I have also heard that he could end up at Hall Of Fame Racing, or Newman/Haas/Lanigan/Yates/etc. Racing.
Yeley cut his teeth in the USAC ranks, but has been unable to find that success that other USAC graduates such as Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman, and Kasey Kahne have found.
Ryan Newman to Richard Childress Racing, or DEI? Unlikely!
Sebastien Bourdais to Yates? Unlikely!
Red Bull Racing To Chevrolet? Unlikely!
Jeremy Mayfield to Richard Childress Racing? Nothing would surprise me.
