MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch is scaling back his grassroots racing program, at least for the time being.
Busch confirmed he has shuttered the Kyle Busch Motorsports super late model team Monday during a preseason interview with Alex Hayden of the Motor Racing Network.
KBM’s three NASCAR Camping World Truck Series teams will continue with John Hunter Nemechek and Chandler Smith chasing a drivers championship with the organization this season.
Busch said the combined weight of his obligations with Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series, as well as KBM and Rowdy Energy — the energy drink company he co-founded — were key factors in the decision to call time on his super late model operation.
“It’s insane, literally. I think it was last week that there was so much stuff going on and flying around … everyone thinks the offseason is your off time and it’s just been hectic,” Busch said. “I’ve been trying to do Kyle Busch Motorsports stuff and Rowdy Energy stuff and been getting ready (for the new Cup season) with an all-new Joe Gibbs Racing team … it’s been crazy. I told Samantha (Busch, wife), ‘I can’t have anything else thrown my way right now. I am to the max. I have to start throwing some stuff out.’
“Lo and behold, unfortunately, I’ve shut my super late model team down,” Busch noted.” That was just one of the things that I couldn’t seem to find the right circumstances and the right people to run that for me. It just didn’t make sense for right now … and we’ll see if it comes back in the future.”
While Busch’s super late model team is closed for now, he left the door open for the team to return in the future if the circumstances were right.
“Those are some of the things that you’ve got to sacrifice and put to the side,” Busch explained. “I don’t think it will ever get dull or slow, the drive to win at every track I’ve been to. I try to do it in the super late model ranks. About every track I’ve been to, I’ve won at. There might be a few I’ve not quite scored the win at, but I’ve been close, so I’ve got to go back and tackle those (at some point).”
Sammy Smith drove for Kyle Busch Motorsports last season in the super late model ranks. In the wake of KBM’s decision to close its super late model team, Smith has moved to Wilson Motorsports for this year.
Since launching in 2007, KBM’s super late model team earned a myriad of crown jewel victories, including four Snowball Derby wins and four Winchester 400 victories.
The team also triumphed in the All American 400, Oxford 250, Winter Showdown, Rattler 250, U.S. Short Track Nationals and the Slinger Nationals.