Kyle Busch to Compete in Rolex 24 in AVS Lexus

Photo: Toyota

NASCAR star Kyle Busch will take part in January’s Rolex 24 at Daytona in one of AIM Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 cars, it has been announced.

The 2015 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion, who drives a Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing, will make his IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and Rolex 24 debut.

The announcement came Monday at the annual ‘Motorsports Day’ event for Toyota and Lexus team members held at the Toyota Motor North America headquarters in Plano, Texas.

“I’d like to thank everyone at Lexus Motorsports, AIM Vasser Sullivan and Toyota for this opportunity,” said Kyle Busch.

“To have the chance to run in such an iconic race as the Rolex 24 is certainly something I’ve thought about and wanted to do.

“My partnership with Toyota and the history we’ve had together has been incredible. I would love to continue that history and maybe get my own Daytona Rolex to add to my trophy collection.”

Sportscar365 understands that fellow Toyota NASCAR star Denny Hamlin was due to join Busch in the two-car effort although Hamlin recently announced he will undergo shoulder surgery during the NASCAR off-season.

“We’re thrilled to have a racer of Kyle’s caliber join AIM Vasser Sullivan to open our 2020 season at the Rolex 24 at Daytona,” said team co-owner Jimmy Vasser.

“Kyle has proven he can compete and win in many forms of motorsports and we look forward to having him drive the Lexus RC F GT3 at Daytona.”

Busch won the first NASCAR Cup Series driver’s championship for Toyota in 2015 and is the winningest driver in Toyota history with 186 victories across all three NASCAR national series.

Overall, he’s earned 207 career NASCAR wins combined and has scored 55 NASCAR Cup Series victories.

Busch holds the NASCAR record for the most wins in both the Xfinity Series (96) and Gander Outdoors Truck Series (56).

He’s currently in the hunt for his second Cup Series championship with two races remaining in the 2019 season after having made the NASCAR ‘Championship 4’ the past four years.

“Kyle has been a fixture in our Toyota family for over a decade and is the winningest driver in the Toyota NASCAR program.

“He has accomplished so many firsts for Toyota throughout his tenure and we couldn’t be happier to have him join AIM Vasser Sullivan and drive the Lexus RC F GT3 in a world class event like the Rolex 24 at Daytona,” said Lisa Materazzo, vice president marketing, Lexus Division.

Full season drivers for the pair of AVS Lexus GTD entries have yet to be announced although Jack Hawksworth has been confirmed to continue.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John