Busch wins Nextel Cup title for Roush
November 21, 2004
http://www.icq.nascar.com/2004/news/...tle/index.html
Kurt Busch won his 1st Nextel Cup title today with an 5th-place finish in the Ford 400. The title is Roush Racing's 2nd in a row in the Nextel Cup Series.
Busch, 26, is the youngest Nextel Cup champion since Jeff Gordon won it in 1995.
Busch won the title by only 8 points over Jimmie Johnson -- the closest points battle in NASCAR history.
Kurt Busch (left) used to struggle with his Southwest team giving him fake times for the driver's meeting.
10 Questions: Kurt Busch
By Dave Rodman, NASCAR.COM - July 12, 2005
http://www.nascar.com/2005/news/head...ns/index.html/
Credit: Autostock
1. What's your dream vehicle that you don't already own?
2. If time on the road weren't an issue, what would be your ideal pet?
3. What's your biggest pet peeve while driving on the road?
4. Racing means travel, so what's your worst hotel experience?
5. What's your favorite food?
Credit: Autostock
6. If you had to choose, would it be being honest, or being nice?
7. What's your fondest childhood memory?
8. What would your dream date be? Where and with whom?
9. Sounds like you might have already had this one covered with your Featherlite Series bunch -- but what's your worst prank, either perpetrated by you, or done to you?
10. What would you consider your "Welcome to NASCAR" moment?
Kurt Busch: Probably it's got to be "the finger" out the window from Dale (Earnhardt) Sr. at Daytona. It was my first Daytona 500 and I got "the finger" out the window.
Credit: Autostock
Kurt Busch has 13 career Cup victories in 171 starts, with 41 top-5 finishes and 72 top-10s.
Credit: Autostock
Busch leaving Roush, joining Penske stable
NASCAR.COM - August 10, 2005
http://www.nascar.com/2005/news/head...act/index.html
CONCORD, N.C. -- Defending Nextel Cup champion Kurt Busch has signed to drive for Roger Penske, starting in 2007.
Roush Racing announced that Busch advised team officials that he has signed with another team commencing in 2007.
Busch also requested a release from his contract for 2006.
"For as long as I am in the No. 97 car," Busch said, "my total focus and commitment will be to Roush Racing ...
Rusty Wallace, driver of the (Penske) No. 2 Dodge, is retiring after the 2005 season.
Busch, who turned 27 last week, was the 3rd-youngest champion in NASCAR history when he won the title last season.
After running a full Truck Series schedule in 2000 and finishing 2nd in points, Busch made the full-time jump to Cup in 2001. He won his 1st race March 24, 2002, at Bristol.
Jimmy Fennig, crew chief for the No. 97 Ford, said earlier this year that he is looking to retire after 2006.
"Probably a couple more years and that will be it for me," Fennig (51 y/o) said in February.
Busch has a history of feuds with rival drivers -- Jimmy Spencer punched him in the nose in 2003 -- and run-ins with NASCAR officials.
Earlier this year, after a tantrum at Darlington that included expletives directed at NASCAR officials over his in-car radio, Busch was placed on unofficial probation and given notice that the sanctioning body would not tolerate more bad behavior.
Busch, McMurray will drive for new teams in '06
NASCAR.COM - November 7, 2005
http://www.nascar.com/2005/news/head...06/index.html/
Kurt Busch moves to Penske
Penske Racing South announced that defending Nextel Cup champion Busch will drive the Miller Lite Dodge commencing with the 2006 Nextel Cup season
"We are pleased that Kurt and Roush Racing were able to reach an agreement on Kurt's release and appreciate the professionalism that it has taken to arrive at this result," said Roger Penske, chairman of Penske Racing South.
"Kurt's joining us for 2006 will provide a smooth transition for the team and our sponsors."
Busch recently had signed a multi-year agreement with Penske that was to take effect in 2007.
Busch, who is eighth in the current Chase for the Nextel Cup, said several elements were involved in the decision to leave Roush Racing.
"I have had a wonderful association with Roush Racing and we have been able to achieve much success together. I appreciate all that Jack Roush and the team has done for me and the professionalism shown in reaching an agreement with me on the release," Busch said. "There were a lot of factors in play here ..."
Defending Nextel Cup champion Kurt Busch suspended by Roush for final 2 races
From staff and wire reports - November 13, 2005
http://www.nascar.com/2005/news/head....ap/index.html
Kurt Busch was suspended by his team for the last 2 races of the NASCAR season after police cited the reigning Nextel Cup champion for reckless driving.
"It's the last straw for Roush Racing," said Geoff Smith, president of Roush Racing. "We're officially retiring as Kurt Busch's apologists effective."
"The team has elected to suspend Kurt Busch for the rest of the season," Smith said.
Busch has not commented publically on the reckless driving citation, but released a statement: "I regret the incident that occurred near the Phoenix International Raceway Friday evening where I received a traffic citation. It is important to understand that this citation is not alcohol related. I want to apologize to the Maricopa County Sheriff's department for my actions."
When asked about Busch's arrest and confrontation with police, team owner Jack Roush said it was no longer his problem.
"This suspension is made after full review of all the circumstances surrounding Kurt's Friday night altercation with the Arizona police, and after consultation with our primary sponsors, " Roush said.
"Roush Racing is embarrassed. The sponsors are embarrassed," Roush said. "This really cuts it. We're embarrassed for all of the NASCAR community."
Busch, 27, was stopped Friday night by police near the track after trying to avoid another car and running a stop sign, police said.
Busch was spotted driving about 60 mph in a 45 mph zone, Chagolla said.
Roger Penske, who will be Busch's boss beginning next season, said nothing has changed as far as his team's relationship with the defending Cup champion.
Smith said Busch, who is under contract to the Roush team through the end of the season, will not be allowed to drive for anyone else this year.
Busch's truculent behavior on and off the track has gotten him in trouble with NASCAR and other drivers in the past.
He was punched in the face by Jimmy Spencer for trying to deliberately wreck him. He was called "an arrogant punk" by Kevin Harvick and is booed by fans who dislike his aggressive driving.
Busch got into trouble with NASCAR again at Darlington in May when he refused to go where he was told after returning to the track following a crash. He then was called into the pits for a penalty and responded with expletives directed at NASCAR officials over his car radio. He also tossed a water bottle that hit the NASCAR official in his pit.
NASCAR officials said his behavior was not "befitting of a champion."
Kyle Busch triumphs after Kurt's suspension
By Mike Harris, The Associated Press - November 14, 2005
http://www.nascar.com/2005/news/head....ap/index.html
Kyle Busch won his 2nd Cup race after a late-race duel with Greg Biffle.
Rookie Kyle Busch outdrove NASCAR's top contenders to win at Phoenix.
"I just want to say I'm behind my brother 100 percent," the 20-year-old winner said of Kurt Busch, who was suspended earlier in the day for a Friday night run-in with police.
Standing on top of his No. 5 Chevrolet and waving to the cheering crowd at Phoenix International Raceway, Busch called his older brother, who won last year's Nextel Cup, "a true champion."
Kurt Busch was suspended by Roush Racing earlier in the day for the last two races of the season after police accused him of reckless driving.
Kurt Busch cited for reckless driving
The Associated Press - November 15, 2005
http://www.nascar.com/2005/news/head...h_detained.ap/
Busch was stopped Friday night after trying to avoid another car and running a stop sign about two miles from Phoenix International Raceway
The driver got his release from Roush Racing earlier this week and plans to join Penske Racing South next season, taking over the No. 2 Dodge from retiring Rusty Wallace.
Neither Busch, his representatives nor the Penske team could be reached for comment.
Jack Roush, Busch's current car owner, said he doesn't plan to take punitive action against the driver.
"I don't plan to take any action myself," he said.
Roush said he had not talked with Busch or any of his representatives and did not know the facts of the incident.
NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said: "It's a traffic ticket as far as we know."
What's Kurt Busch to do?
Busch goes from villian to likeable yet fans still hate
By Beau Estes, NASCAR.COM - August 23, 2007
http://www.nascar.com/2007/news/opin...ry_single.html
Kurt Busch is smiling more, yet fans are still finding reasons to not like him.
In fairness, to say Busch has had a bit of a checkered past with NASCAR fans is like saying North Korea has a small credibility problem in the community of nations. I get it; Kurt didn't win Mr. Popularity at the Driver / Fan senior prom. In fact the distaste for his antics goes across NASCAR lines into mainstream sports.
Busch's comment to a Phoenix area police officer who stopped Kurt in 2005 makes a sane person wince, "Aren't you supposed to be directing traffic somewhere?" The run-in was the last straw for Roush Fenway Racing who soon after got out of the business of being "Kurt Busch apologists."
Clearly, he has made sweeping changes in his public persona. Following his win in Michigan, the first thing I heard from his in-car audio was "It's Miller Time." This is the same guy that almost lost his sponsorship from Newell Rubbermaid after he won the championship in 2004. Now he is a sponsors dream.
Busch is not the first famous athlete to feel "burned" by the fans or media in the past.
Unfortunately we live in the age of the sanitized vanilla corporate pitchman / athlete -- notice which word was last in the previous sentence. So much money is involved across the sports landscape at the intersection of athletes and sponsorship that of late,
the actual event seems a bit lost. Worse still, at this point it doesn't seem like there is any going back.
http://www.nascar.com/news/headlines/cup/buschkurt.bio/
Kurt Busch
Birthday: Aug. 4, 1978
Hometown: Las Vegas
NOTEWORTHY
Younger brother, Kyle, also competes in the Cup Series. ... A lifelong Chicago Cubs fan. Loves Italian food.
PREVIOUS RACING HISTORY
Began racing at age 14, in Dwarf Cars at Parhump Valley Speedway near Las Vegas.
Was the 1994 Nevada State Dwarf Car rookie of the year.
Won Nevada Dwarf Car championship in 1995.
The 1996 Legend Cars National rookie of the year and Legend Cars Western States champion.
Won the 1996 Hobby Stock track championship at the Las Vegas Speedway Park.
Competed in the Southwest Series from 1997-1999, recording seven wins.
Southwest Series rookie of the year in 1998.
In 1999, Busch won the NASCAR Southwest Series, NASCAR Touring championship driving for Craig Keough.
At age 21, was the youngest driver to win that series' championship.
Runner-up for the 2000 Truck Series championship and had 4 victories that season.
YEAR-BY-YEAR CUP SERIES RECAP
2000 -- Made 7 starts for Roush Racing.
2001 -- Finished 27th in series points.
Finished 3rd at the Talladega, 4th at Texas and 5th at Indianapolis.
2002 -- Finished 3rd in series points.
Had a breakthrough season with 4 wins (Bristol, Martinsville, Atlanta and Homestead).
Had 3 wins in the final 5 weeks of the season.
2003 -- Finished 11th in series points.
Experienced an up-and-down year with 4 wins, 9 top-fives, 14 top-10s and a career-high 8 DNFs.
2004 -- Won the series championship.
Finished with 3 wins, 10 top-fives, 21 top-10s and a career-low 3 DNFs in 36 starts.
Earned 1,506 points during the inaugural 10-race Chase, 8 points more than runner-up Jimmie Johnson.
Was 7th following race No. 26 at Richmond on Sept. 11, the cutoff point for the Chase.
Took the standings lead with 8 races remaining in the Chase and never relinquished it despite a blown engine at Atlanta and a detached right-front wheel early in the season finale at Homestead.
Finished with 1 win, 6 top-fives and 9 top-10s in the final 10 races.
2005 -- Finished 10th in series points.
Ended season with 3 victories (Phoenix, Pocono and Richmond).
Recorded 9 top-fives and 18 top-10s.
Finished in the top 3 in the season's first 3 races.
Missed the final 2 races of the season after being suspended by car owner Jack Roush.
2006 -- Finished 16th in series points.
Had 1 victory, at Bristol spring race.
Recorded 7 top-fives and 12 top-10s.
With a win in the Busch Series, he became one of only 16 drivers with a win in all 3 of NASCAR's national series.
2007 -- Finished 7th in series points.
Had 2 victories, at the 2nd Pocono race and the 2nd Michigan race
Recorded 6 top-fives and 14 top-10s
Has won at least 1 race in 6 consecutive seasons
Led the most miles in the series with 1,691.8 miles led.
2008 -- Finished 18th in series points.
Had one win (June at New Hampshire).
Posted 5 top-fives and 10 top-10s.
Two runner-up finishes (Daytona 500 and November's Phoenix race).