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Yesterday, we took a look at JR Motorsports and the best drivers in the history of that organization. However, Kyle Busch Motorsports has functioned as a similar vessel through the Craftsman Truck Series, and even through late models. Who are the best drivers to drive for Kyle Busch Motorsports?
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By the Numbers (KBM): 1 Win; 10 Top-5s; 16 Top-10s; 26 Races
By the Numbers (Cup): 1 Win; 16 Top-5s; 54 Top-10s; 231 Races; 2 Poles; 1 Playoff Appearance
Breakdown: Daniel Suarez’s first big break in NASCAR came with a part-time schedule with Kyle Busch Motorsports. After a lot of good runs, he was able to break through in his second to last start with the team at Phoenix in 2016 for his first career Craftsman Truck Series win. Since then. Suarez has gone on to win an Xfinity Series Championship, and he scored his first career Cup Series win last year at Sonoma.
By the Numbers (KBM): 5 Wins; 14 Top-5s; 26 Top-10s; 44 Races; 3rd place in 2014 Truck Series Points
By the Numbers (Cup): 2 Wins; 15 Top-5s; 27 Top-10s; 199 Races
Breakdown: Bubba Wallace has had to go through a lot during his career, but he first flashed his talents driving for Kyle Busch in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. He won his first race at Martinsville in 2013, and he followed it up with a four win season in 2014. It took him some time to work his way up through the Cup Series ladder, but he is now in the midst of his best season to date.
By the Numbers (KBM): 7 Wins; 20 Top-5s; 35 Top-10s; 42 Races; 2015 Truck Series Champion.
By the Numbers (Cup): 3 Wins; 36 Top-5s; 83 Top-10s; 235 Races; 2 Playoff Appearances
Breakdown: While this season in Cup has not been great for Erik Jones, No one can deny his talent. He was the first KBM driver to win a Truck Series championship in 2015. Even more interesting was that he beat out one of JRM’s top five drivers we listed in Tyler Reddick.
By the Numbers (KBM): 7 Wins; 26 Top-5s; 41 Top-10s; 55 Races; 2017 Truck Series Champion
By the Numbers (Cup): 5 Wins; 26 Top-5s; 52 Top-10s; 124 Races; 3 Playoff Appearances
Breakdown: Christopher Bell has gotten closer than any other KBM alum to a Cup Series championship as he made the Championship 4 last fall. He also became KBM’s second series champion in 2017 as well. However, he also showed the NASCAR world his prowess on dirt tracks with his first career NASCAR win at Eldora in 2015.
By the Numbers (KBM): 7 Wins; 13 Top-5s; 19 Top-10s; 27 Races; 5th in 2016 Truck Series Points
By the Numbers (Cup): 7 Wins; 33 Top-5s; 71 Top-10s; 196 Races; 5 Playoff Appearances
Breakdown: Byron has won the most races in the Cup Series amongst KBM alums, and he is having the best season of his career this season. Byron has also brought up KBM crew chief alum Rudy Fugle to the Cup Series as well. Byron would likely have won the 2016 Truck Series championship if not for an engine failure in the penultimate race of the season.
There still is plenty of time for other KBM drivers to work their way up through the ranks. However, these are drivers that have a lot their careers ahead of them. There is no telling how many Cup Series wins and championships there are amongst this group.
