Kurt Busch, a Las Vegas native, began his racing journey in 1999 competing in Legends cars at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Bullring. By 2000, after an impressive run in the Truck Series where he won four races and finished second in the championship, Busch made his debut in the NASCAR Cup Series. His early promise was clear as he quickly climbed the ranks.
In 2002, Busch secured a third-place finish in the Cup championship, and by 2004, he earned his first Cup championship driving for Roush Racing, the team now known as Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing. While many expected him to gather multiple championships throughout his career, Busch ended up with a total of 34 Cup wins but just one championship title.
The Stewart-Haas Racing Years and a Championship Near-Miss
Later in his career, Busch appeared poised to add a second championship, this time as a member of Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR). The 2016 season was significant as it marked the final year for Tony Stewart as a driver. Besides Busch, SHR’s lineup included Danica Patrick and Kevin Harvick.
That year, Busch claimed a victory at Pocono Raceway and recorded nine top-five finishes along with 21 top-10s, ultimately finishing seventh in the standings. He was the highest-ranked SHR driver that season, edging out teammate Kevin Harvick by a single position.
Busch’s collaboration with crew chief Tony Gibson from 2015 through 2017 proved especially fruitful, highlighted by their teamwork during the 2017 Daytona 500 where Busch achieved one of his career’s biggest wins.
Reflections on His Time with Stewart-Haas Racing
During an appearance on the SpakeUp podcast hosted by Shannon Spake, Busch reflected on his experience with different teams. When asked about his favorite organization, Busch singled out his time with Stewart-Haas Racing.
“I was thinking like Tony Gibson and that whole group at Stewart-Haas,”
Busch said.
“I felt like that should have been a championship over there.”
“Harvick was our teammate and with (Clint) Bowyer, Danica and Stewart was still driving. That (2016) was like my second-best chance, I thought, to win a championship and Tony Gibson just made it fun.”
—Kurt Busch, NASCAR driver
From a Seventh-Place Finish to Daytona 500 Victory
Although Busch fell short of the championship in 2016, the victory at the 2017 Daytona 500 became a defining moment for him. This win stood out not only for its prestige but also for the emotional response from his crew chief Tony Gibson, emphasizing the significance of that achievement for the team.
“(Gibson) was so good at restrictor plate stuff,”
Busch recalled.
“He lost it, like he just lost his soul in that whole moment. That was a huge win for us.”
“I felt like that era should have provided more wins. We were just consistent, we chiseled away and we had fun. We had fun outside the track as well.”
—Kurt Busch, NASCAR driver
The Enduring Impact of Busch’s Stewart-Haas Racing Tenure
Kurt Busch’s period with Stewart-Haas Racing remains an important chapter of his career, marked by close calls and memorable victories. His reflections highlight a period filled with strong teamwork, competitive consistency, and personal fulfillment both on and off the track. As a soon-to-be NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee, Busch acknowledges that his time alongside Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick, and others was a notable era that nearly brought another championship to his record.
Looking ahead, Busch’s candid assessment of that phase provides insight into the challenges and highs experienced by a seasoned NASCAR driver striving for greatness in a fiercely competitive sport.
