Kyle Busch is no stranger to creating a legacy. The man who has the most wins in Trucks and Xfinity but is on a winless streak in the Cup Series has certainly made his mark on the sport. But beyond the track, his heart and soul were poured into Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM), a team he founded in 2010 to give young drivers a shot at their dreams. KBM wasn’t just a business; it was a legacy, a proving ground that shaped stars like Erik Jones, Christopher Bell, and William Byron.
So, when Busch sold KBM to Spire Motorsports in September 2023 for a reported $25 million, the news hit like a shockwave. The decision was gut-wrenching, driven by financial strain, personal sacrifice, and a desire to secure KBM’s future. This is the story of why Busch let go of his “baby” and what it means for his family’s racing legacy.
KBM was a powerhouse in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, racking up 100 wins and several championships. Busch didn’t just fund it—he lived it. He mentored drivers, tweaked trucks, and balanced his own racing career while building a team from scratch. But behind the victories, challenges loomed.
While Busch was getting engines for JGR, it seemed his partnership with the team was coming to an end, and after sponsor issues, his exit from the team was all but confirmed. It meant switching KBM to Chevrolet for the 2023 season to stay competitive. It wasn’t enough. The costs of running a top-tier team—trucks, staff, travel, maintenance—were crushing.
Reflecting on the sale, Busch carried a mix of longing and pragmatism on the Door Bumper Clear podcast. “No, I mean I still kind of miss those days, you know,” he said. “I do miss the camaraderie and those people, you know, the Rudys of the world, the Eric Phillips of the world and those guys that were always there every single day working to make that company as strong as it was and as competitive and dominant in the truck series. And so, you know, miss working with the Toyota guys as well too on that front but just kind of came to a point where it was starting to look a little bit grimmer on sustainability and so I was like, you know what, this might be the time to just kind of say like, hey, if there’s anybody out there, you know, come take it and then all of a sudden a knock on the door from the Spire guys, they were like, yeah, we need your shop, we want to put a cup team in there, we want to, well, we want to put three cup teams in there and we want to run the trucks out of there, well, we want to run five trucks out of there. I’m like, guys, there’s not enough room for all of that.”
LAS VEGAS, NV – OCTOBER 19: Kyle Busch 8 Richard Childress Racing FICO Chevrolet answers questions from members of the media during a media bullpen before practice and qualifying for the South Point 400 NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series playoff race on October 19, 2024, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, NV. Photo by Marc Sanchez/LVMS/Icon Sportswire AUTO: OCT 19 NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400 EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon144241019026
The sale to Spire Motorsports wasn’t a quick cash grab. The deal included KBM’s entire operation: trucks, equipment, the Mooresville shop, and even Rowdy Manufacturing, Busch’s in-house parts business. Spire co-owner Jeff Dickerson called it a “no-brainer,” telling NASCAR.com, “This acquisition strengthens our Truck Series program and gives us a solid foundation to grow.” For Busch, it was about survival. Selling to Spire meant KBM’s legacy could live on, even if it wasn’t under his name. Most of the staff were rehired, and the facility kept humming, now part of Spire’s expanded Truck Series operation.
Spire’s leadership faced its own struggles. Co-owner Doug Duchardt admitted to a media outburst post-sale, citing the stress of integrating KBM’s operations. Yet, there was hope. Spire preserved KBM’s core, keeping the shop alive and rehiring most of the crew. Busch found solace in this, ensuring his “iconic jewels”—his collection of race-winning trophies—found a new home, possibly with Spire or a personal display.
Despite the sale, KBM hasn’t vanished entirely. Busch clarified that the team continues in a smaller form, operating outside NASCAR’s national series. With a handful of employees, KBM now focuses on grassroots racing, fielding cars for Busch and Brexton. “I definitely miss the Truck Series team a little bit. KBM still exists. We’re just racing at the grassroots level with me and Brex,” Busch told Fox Sports. “But I’m obviously missing the people that were there and going into the shop and seeing them every single day or every week or whatever it might have been. That’s the part that I feel like I was going to miss from the start and kind of still do a little bit.”
The scaled-down KBM keeps a flicker of his vision alive, but the vibrant days of leading a championship team are gone. As Busch drives forward, the echoes of KBM’s glory—its wins, its people, its spirit—remain a bittersweet part of his story.
Kyle Busch’s Heartbreaking Talladega Struggles
Busch admitted the season’s been tough, with only one top-10 finish in eight races. Yet, he’s not giving up. As speculation swirls about his next move—maybe a new team or even retirement—you can’t help but root for Busch to find his spark again. Talladega was a low point, but if anyone can bounce back, it’s Kyle. 2025 NASCAR season hit a rough patch at Talladega, and you can feel the weight of his frustration.
Mid-race, he radioed his team, “I don’t know how to fix it but I need help,” as he battled a car that just wouldn’t stick. Despite their efforts, a massive wreck ended his day early, leaving him shaken. The aftermath left Busch’s car damaged but drivable, while Brad Keselowski’s day ended prematurely with a totaled car. Ryan Blaney’s No. 12 was towed to the garage with what appeared to be a broken toe link, adding another DNF to his frustrating 2025 season.
Here’s a wild idea what if Busch gets together with his former crew chief, Rodney Childers, who shocked NASCAR by leaving Spire Motorsports.“He was the hot commodity on the market… I know four teams that were talking to him.” Busch said, praising Childers’ skill and friendship. Childers’ exit certainly runs imagination for all Rowdy Nation fans.
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