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Kyle Busch stands on pit road with his hand over his heart
BACK TO GALLERIES

Biggest free agency signings in NASCAR history

By Zach Sturniolo | Published: September 13, 2022 15
James Gilbert | Getty Images
BACK TO GALLERIES

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Kyle Busch stands on pit road with his hand over his heart

James Gilbert | Getty Images

Kyle Busch announced he was joining Richard Childress Racing in 2023, ending a 15-year relationship with Joe Gibbs Racing that included 56 Cup Series wins and two championships (2015, '19). Scroll through to see other big free agency signings in NASCAR history.

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DALLAS, TX - SEPTEMBER 19:  Dale Earnhardt Jr. (R) of the Hendrick Motorsports Racing Team poses with Rick Hendrick and his new cars on September 19, 2007 at the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas.  (Photo by Layne Murdoch/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Layne Murdoch | Getty Images

Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- DEI to Hendrick Motorsports, 2007-08


Through the early 2000s, it seemed inconceivable Dale Jr. would leave Dale Earnhardt, Inc. That officially changed in June 2007 when he signed to drive for Hendrick Motorsports beginning in 2008, sparking a 10-year partnership that produced nine of his 26 career wins, including a second Daytona 500 victory in 2014.

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LAS VEGAS - JANUARY 31:  Robby Loomis (L) of Petty Enterprises speaks with driver Bobby Labonte (R) of the #43 Cheerios Dodge, during the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series January Testing on January 31, 2006 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada.  (Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Todd Warshaw | Getty Images

Bobby Labonte -- Joe Gibbs Racing to Petty Enterprises, 2005-06


Five years removed from his 2000 NASCAR Cup Series championship, Bobby Labonte decided to leave the famed No. 18 Chevrolet at JGR to drive another famous NASCAR number, wheeling the No. 43 Dodge for Petty Enterprises starting in 2006.

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TALLADEGA, AL - April 28: Team owner Richard Childress (L) talks with Jeff Burton (R), driver of the #31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet,  during the NASCAR Nextel  Cup Series Aaron's 499 practice at the Talladega Superspeedway on April 28, 2006 in Talladega, Alabama.  (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Andy Lyons | Getty Images

Jeff Burton -- Roush Racing to Richard Childress Racing, 2004


Jeff Burton excelled in Jack Roush's No. 99 Ford in the late 1990s and early 2000s, collecting 17 wins between 1997 and 2001. But sponsorship at Roush dwindled in 2004, forcing Burton out and swapping midseason to Richard Childress Racing. Burton earned four wins in the team's No. 31 car.

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HUNTERSVILLE, NC - AUGUST 14: (L-R) Interstate Batteries Chairman Norm Miller, NEXTEL Cup Series driver Kyle Busch and Joe Gibbs Racing team president J.D. Gibbs announce that Busch will join Joe Gibbs Racing next season during a press conference on August 14, 2007 in Huntersville, North Carolina.  (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Kevin C. Cox | Getty Images

Kyle Busch -- Hendrick to Joe Gibbs Racing, 2007-08


Busch was always a hot commodity and proved his talents at the Cup level by driving Hendrick Motorsports' No. 5 Chevrolet to four wins. But in 2007, he departed for Joe Gibbs Racing to take over the No. 18 in 2008. With eight races remaining in this 15-year partnership, Busch has won two Cup titles and 56 races, including a victory in April on the Bristol dirt.

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JOLIET, IL - JULY 10:  Joe Custer (L), General Manager for Haas Racing and Tony Stewart (R), driver of the #20 Home Depot Toyota, announce during a press conference, that Tony will become part owner and full time driver for the new Stewart Haas Racing team in 2009, prior to practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series LifeLock.com 400 on July 10, 2008 at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois.  (Photo by Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR) | Getty Images

Jason Smith | Getty Images

Tony Stewart -- JGR to Stewart-Haas Racing, 2008-09


Stewart was already a 37-time winner and two-time Cup champion with Joe Gibbs Racing. But in 2008, Stewart partnered with Joe Custer (pictured, left) and Gene Haas to form Stewart-Haas Racing in 2009. The move proved fruitful in numerous ways, including another Cup title in 2011.

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BROOKLYN, MI - AUGUST 15:  Ryan Newman (L), driver of the #12 alltel Dodge, and Tony Stewart, driver of the #20 Home Depot Toyota, speak to the media during a press conference announcing Newman becoming a driver for Stewart / Haas Racing for the 2009 season prior to practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 3M Performance 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 15, 2008 in Brooklyn, Michigan.  (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR) | Getty Images

Geoff Burke | Getty Images

Ryan Newman -- Penske Racing to Stewart-Haas Racing, 2008-09


As a new co-owner, Stewart knew who he wanted as his teammate, convincing Newman to leave Penske after seven successful full-time seasons with the organization. After winning the 2008 Daytona 500 and 43 poles with Penske, Newman spent 2009-13 with SHR collecting four wins and eight pole awards, including a victory from the pole in the 2013 Brickyard 400.

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KANSAS CITY, KS - OCTOBER 07:  (L-R) Team owner Michael Waltrip and driver Clint Bowyer pose by the #15 5-Hour Energy Toyota at Kansas Speedway on October 7, 2011 in Kansas City, Kansas. Waltrip announced that Clint Bowyer will join Michael Waltrip Racing for the 2012 Season.  (Photo by Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR) | Getty Images

Jason Smith | Getty Images

Clint Bowyer -- Richard Childress Racing to Michael Waltrip Racing, 2011-12


Bowyer went to Victory Lane five times in six seasons with RCR but departed for MWR for the 2012 season. He produced immediately, netting three wins in his inaugural season in the No. 15 Toyota and totaled 10 top fives and 23 tops 10s, all career-high marks.

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CONCORD, NC - JANUARY 24:  (L-R) Matt Kenseth, Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin drivers for Joe Gibbs Racing speak to the media during the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Media Tour on January 24, 2013 in Concord, North Carolina.  (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images for NASCAR) | Getty Images

Streeter Lecka | Getty Images

Matt Kenseth, Roush Fenway Racing to Joe Gibbs Racing, 2012-13


At RFR, Kenseth was a 24-time winner and 2003 champion while driving the No. 17 Ford. But the 2012-13 offseason brought significant change to Kenseth, who departed for the No. 20 Toyota at JGR beginning in 2013. That partnership proved successful immediately with seven wins in 2013 before scoring an additional eight over the next four seasons.

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CONCORD, NC - JANUARY 23:  (L-R) Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski, teammates at Penske Racing, speak to the media during the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Media Tour on January 23, 2013 in Concord, North Carolina.  (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images for NASCAR) | Getty Images

Streeter Lecka | Getty Images

Joey Logano -- Joe Gibbs Racing to Team Penske, 2012-13


On the other end of Kenseth's transition to the No. 20 car was Logano's departure from it. The highly touted youngster had just two career wins when he left JGR in 2012. Since then, he's won 27 races and the 2018 Cup Series championship in Penske's No. 22 Ford.

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CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 11:  Kevin Harvick drives the #4 Stewart Haas Chevrolet during testing at Charlotte Motor Speedway on December 11, 2013 in Charlotte, North Carolina.  (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/NASCAR via Getty Images)

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Kevin Harvick -- Richard Childress Racing to Stewart-Haas Racing, 2013-14


Harvick was well established as a seasoned vet by 2013, but his departure from RCR's No. 29 Chevrolet was known by the end of the 2012 season. Joining SHR and crew chief Rodney Childers for the 2014 season proved potent as the duo stormed to the Cup title in their inaugural season. Of his 60 career wins, 37 have come with SHR.

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FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 01:  (L-R) Driver Martin Truex is presented as the next driver of the #78 Furniture Row / Denver Mattress Chevrolet by Joe Garone, general manager of Furniture Row Racing, at Texas Motor Speedway on November 1, 2013 in Fort Worth, Texas.  (Photo by Todd Warshaw/NASCAR via Getty Images)

Todd Warshaw | Getty Images

Martin Truex Jr. -- Michael Waltrip Racing to Furniture Row Racing, 2013-14


Truex was left searching for a ride after NAPA Auto Parts announced it would not return to sponsor his No. 56 Toyota at MWR. The result? A remarkably successful five-year tenure with the No. 78 team that saw Truex win the 2017 championship in addition to 17 of his 31 career victories.

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 29:  Carl Edwards, driver of the #19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, walks through the garage area during NASCAR Sprint Cup Series testing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on April 29, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana.  (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/NASCAR via Getty Images)

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Carl Edwards -- Roush Fenway Racing to Joe Gibbs Racing, 2014-15


Carl Edwards' long tenure with Roush -- which began in Cup when Burton departed in 2004 -- came to an end after the 2014 season, by then netting 23 wins and two runner-up finishes in the championship standings. On he went to JGR, where he was an instant contender in the No. 19 Toyota and fought for the title as part of the Championship 4 in 2016 in the final race of his Cup career.

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TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - OCTOBER 04: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 McDonald's Toyota, is congratulated on the grid by Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, (R) after winning the rain-shortened NASCAR Cup Series YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 04, 2021 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

Bubba Wallace -- Richard Petty Motorsports to 23XI Racing, 2020-21


Wallace has driven for two of sport's biggest names in Richard Petty and now Michael Jordan. His signing to 23XI Racing for the 2021 season welcomed Jordan to NASCAR as a team co-owner alongside Denny Hamlin and has scored wins in each of his two seasons with the organization.

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2021nov17 Brad Keselowski Rfk

Zack Albert | NASCAR Studios

Brad Keselowski -- Team Penske to RFK Racing, 2021-22


After 12 exceptional seasons driving the No. 2 car for Team Penske that resulted in a 2012 title and 34 wins, Keselowski departed to take an ownership stake in the rebranded Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing while shifting to the cockpit of the No. 6 Ford for the 2022 season.
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