Reigning NASCAR Nextel Cup champion Kurt Busch is leaving Roush Racing to join Penske Racing South, it was announced yesterday.
Penske signed Busch to a multi-year contract, the terms of which were confidential, that begins at the start of the 2007 season.
Busch could join Penske as early as the start of the 2006 season, if Roush allows him out of a contract that is scheduled to run until end of that season. Busch has asked to be released from his contract at the end of this season, which has 15 races remaining.
Roush Racing said in a statement that a decision on Busch’s request had not yet been made, due to sponsorship obligations.
Busch threw out the first pitch at Wrigley Field yesterday and led the singing of Take Me Out to the Ballgame, after which he spoke about his future.
“There’s still so much more work to be done in the meantime. I’ve got an opportunity to win a championship in 2005, as well as 2006, for whomever I drive for,” Busch told the Associated Press. “Roush Racing has given me the best equipment to go and do so, and I’m [looking forward to] the opportunity of what these next five races mean, which is to get into the playoffs and of course, the Chase.
“There’s times for change and then there’s times for staying put. I haven’t made my 2006 plans very clear yet.”
Walter Czarnecki, vice-chairman of Penske Racing, said the team and Busch had been in negotiations for the last several months.
“It’s not something we decided to do Sunday,” Czarnecki told The Post.
The aftershocks of a team as successful as Roush losing a driver of Busch’s caliber will be felt throughout the sport, whenever he switches teams.
Calls to Roush Racing and Busch’s publicist were not returned early last night. In its statement, Roush did not give any reason for Busch’s departure.
Czarnecki confirmed that Busch will step into the No. 2 Dodge as soon as he is released from his contract with Roush. The No. 2 car is now driven by Rusty Wallace, who will retire at the end of this season. It’s still unclear who will drive the No. 2 during the 2006 season if Busch isn’t granted an early release.
“Rusty’s enthusiastic about Kurt taking over for him,” Czarnecki said. “All our drivers were apprised of the situation. The relationship [between Busch and current Penske drivers Wallace and Ryan Newman] has been very, very positive. There’s a mutual respect there.”
Busch’s move was shocking, considering how hot Roush has been lately. Roush has four of the top-10 drivers in the Nextel Cup standings, and Matt Kenseth is sitting in 15th.
Busch, who currently drives the No. 97 Ford car, has been with Roush since 2000, when owner Jack Roush hired him to drive in the Craftsman Truck Series. He joined NASCAR’s top circuit full-time in 2002, and has 13 Cup wins in 171 races.