"A lot of change that happened all at once": When Samantha deemed her husband Kyle Busch’s JGR exit as 'very positive'

Kyle Busch exited Joe Gibbs Racing at the end of the 2022 season and embarked on a new campaign with Richard Childress Racing. The Nevada native lent his expertise to JGR for 15 years, collecting 56 Cup wins, 91 Xfinity victories, and three titles -two in the Cup Series (2015 and 2019) and the 2009 Xfinity trophy.

One year after running for RCR, Busch sat for a conversation with NASCAR insider Alex Weaver and was joined by his wife Samantha. Mrs. Busch said her husband has been more relaxed after his struggling year at JGR, where the veteran driver recorded a solitary win, which is lackluster compared to his previous stats where he averaged close to four race wins per season.

"Yes. I think you know just being a little bit more relaxed obviously, if you compare it to the last year that was a very stressful time and situation. It was just everything that we've known for so many years, it was a lot of change that happened all at once," Samantha said via NASCAR (3:02)

Samantha then touched on Busch's "positive change" following his JGR exit.

"The kind of relationships that have already been formed at RCR, there's just like a new spring in your step. I wouldn't say that he's a relaxed person by any means but overall I think it's been a very positive change," she said.

Busch recorded three wins, 10 top-5, and 17 top-10s in his debut year at RCR. The winningest active NASCAR driver could've extended his stay at JGR but amid sponsorship struggles, he opted for RCR from several offers on his plate.

Kyle Busch and RCR's deal was among the most unexpected partnerships NASCAR has ever witnessed

When news about Kyle Busch's shift to a rival team gained traction, it was speculated that he could join hands with Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan's 23XI Racing. Instead, the two-time Cup champion inked a multiyear deal with Richard Childress.

The relationship between Childress and Busch started on a sour note. The latter got into a physical altercation with the former after a run-in with RCR's Truck driver Jay Coulter at the 2011 Kansas race. Childress even received a $150,000 penalty for manhandling the then-JGR driver. That being said, their union was unlikely to happen.

However, the duo cleared their tensions during the 2022 season and unified for the 2023 season.

“He and I have talked. We put all of our differences behind us a while back and he’s a great race driver. He’ll land him a good ride somewhere, for sure,” Childress said of Kyle Busch via NASCAR.

Kyle Busch couldn't replicate his 2023 performance. He ended the season as winless, marking the first time since his rookie season in 2005, and failed to continue his playoff streak which began in 2013.