Sirius-Speedway.com first reported last week that Kyle Busch will slash his involvement in the NASCAR Camping World Truck and (possibly) NASCAR Nationwide Series next season at the request of Joe Gibbs Racing. That report unleashed a torrent of debate that shows no sign of subsiding.
Kyle Busch Motorsports has fielded one of the most successful Truck Series operations in recent years, with Busch winning six times in just 16 series starts last season. KBM will field Toyotas on the NASCAR Nationwide Series for the first time in 2012, and initial plans called for Busch to compete regularly in both Nationwide and Trucks, in addition to his full-time Sprint Cup championship effort with Gibbs. But KBM General Manager Rick Ren confirmed last week that Busch will probably not run any Truck Series races in 2012, and may not compete in the Nationwide Series either; all at the request of JGR.
Since that announcement, Sirius-Speedway.com has hosted a lively debate on the topic, with Kyle Busch fans protesting what they consider unfair treatment of Busch by JGR and its sponsor M&Ms, while Buschs detractors argue that he got what he deserved.
The debate raises some interesting questions about just how much control a team should have over its driver; both on and off the race track. There is no doubt that both JGR and M&Ms were damaged when Busch wrecked Ron Hornaday under caution at Texas Motor Speedway.
Does Joe Gibbs Racing have the right to restrict Kyle Buschs participation in the NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series? As an employer that pays him millions of dollars each year to drive in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series -- dollars that almost certainly helped finance the construction and continued operation of Kyle Busch Motorsports is JGR within its rights to have Busch race only for them in 2012?
For the record, Joe Gibbs has not always restricted his drivers to the Sprint Cup Series, or even to NASCAR. Tony Stewart is notorious for racing Sprint Cars and midgets on off weekends from Sprint Cup competition, and Kasey Kahne raised a few eyebrows by flipping a 410 Sprint Car out of the park at Pennsylvanias Williams Grove Speedway last summer.
In the past, other team owners have also requested that their drivers avoid taking part in non-Sprint Cup Series events. Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon rarely compete in the Nationwide and Truck Series, honoring team owner Rick Hendricks wish that they concentrate on their Sunday jobs and not endanger themselves by taking part in other forms of racing.
Nobody Joe Gibbs Racing nor anyone else -- can force Busch to withdraw from the Nationwide and Truck Series. They can, however, make it a condition of his continued employment and allow him to decide where his priorities lie. If Busch insists on running the Nationwide and Truck Series next season, he can do so, full-time, immediately after resigning from the seat of JGRs #18 Sprint Cup Toyota.
updated by @johnny-mallonee: 12/05/16 04:04:08PM
