“He wants to leave so bad”: Fans react as Kyle Busch leaves the door open for a JGR or HMS return 

The NASCAR fanbase has reacted to Kyle Busch’s response during the recent press conversation at the Iowa Speedway. Amid Martin Truex Jr.’s retirement, the Richard Childress Racing driver was asked about the odds of his return to Joe Gibbs Racing’s stable.

A few days ago, Martin Truex Jr. settled the buzz around his retirement by announcing that he will step aside from full-time Cup Series racing from next season onwards. However, the JGR driver will be in the garage doing other roles.

Before joining hands with RCR last year, Kyle Busch raced for Joe Gibbs. After serving at his former team for 15 years, the Las Vegas native announced his shift to Richard Childress’ garage. One of the major reasons was their big-pocketed sponsor M&M/Mars which announced the end of their primary sponsorship with Busch and the team as the 2022 season concluded.

After the 43-year-old broke the silence on his retirement, rumors of Kyle Busch’s return to JGR did rounds in the community, following which he was asked about the same.

"I would say there's anything's possible always you know. Certainly, if I was welcomed I would go back. If Hendrick welcomed me back I would go back. But right now I'm at RCR with my group of guys and in the deal that I have right now in place and so we're trying to work and build this program and make RCR great again," Busch said via Bob Pockrass on X.

The #8 Chevy driver will also remain at RCR for the next season but will be free to join any other team in 2026. With that, Busch left the door open for his return to JGR or Hendrick Motorsports, where he ran for three seasons before joining Joe Gibbs’ team.

Hearing the two-time Cup Series champion leaving room for speculation, the fanbase opined on the driver’s response.

One fan pointed out Busch’s supposed eagerness to leave RCR. Taking to X, they wrote.

“He wants to leave so bad 🤣,” a fan commented.

“Ya he wants out lol,” another fan concurred.

“He seems delighted to be at RCR - not!” another fan commented.

“Guessin' Kyle isn't to happy with RC. Cold blooded,” the fan opined.

This fan took a jibe at RCR for not letting talented drivers grow.

“Makes sense. No way RCR let’s a talent like KB go. Hopefully a seat at JGR or HMS somehow opens up for 2026. If Bowman doesn’t improve over the next year and a half, could you see HMS look to “upgrade?”” they wrote.

“Translation: RCR is terrible,” another fan wrote.

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Kyle Busch speaks on his future amid Martin Truex Jr.’s retirement buzz

Since 2022, Truex Jr. has teased his retirement from the sport but eventually returned for two seasons. However, the JGR driver has now called off his future full-time Cup Series duties.

The current season has witnessed a mixed bag of performances from Kyle Busch. From 16 regular-season Cup races so far, the Nevada native has bagged two top 5s and five top 10s. His best result came at the Atlanta Motor Speedway where he finished third by a minuscule margin of 0.007 seconds over Daniel Suarez.

Aged 39, Kyle Busch is among the oldest active NASCAR drivers. Amid his former teammate Truex Jr.’s retirement, the RCR driver highlighted his future in motorsports as he admitted inching closer to pulling out from the high-octane debacles.

"It's weird, but it's evolution, I guess, of how this sport happens. I mean, Jeff Gordon came in at 22, 23, and left at 43 something. I'm not too far behind; I know. My days are numbered,” Busch said via Frontstretch on YouTube (at 4.40).

Currently, Kyle Busch is placed 15th, with 380 points to his name. He trails by 181 points behind the topper Kyle Larson.