NASCAR
Highlights From Kurt Busch’s 23-Year NASCAR Journey
Lost in the drama of the regular season finale and Playoffs beginning was a very bittersweet Daytona press conference. Kurt Busch announced that he is retired from NASCAR competition, ending a 23-year run for the Las Vegas native.
Perhaps nobody else in recent NASCAR history has undergone a more compelling arc from villain to hero across their Cup Series tenure than Kurt Busch. Let’s take a chronological look back at some of the high points in Kurt Busch’s NASCAR career.
2002 Food City 500
The closing laps of the 2002 Bristol spring race were a contentious back-and-forth affair between two hungry drivers. Jimmy Spencer was going for his first win in over seven years. A young and brash Kurt Busch meanwhile was going for a maiden Cup triumph. Lap 445 saw Busch execute a bump and run on Spencer, nudging the No. 41 out of the way.
Busch would go on to claim the victory, his first of six at Bristol. Spencer did not forget how he was raced though, and would soon repay the favor.
2002 Brickyard 400
Five months later at Indianapolis, Spencer and Busch found each other once again. This time however it would be Spencer getting the last laugh, after spinning Busch in turn three. Upon exiting the wrecked No. 97 Ford, Busch approached Spencer’s car and gestured at him as the No. 41 drove by. This rivalry defined NASCAR for well over a season, with Spencer later punching Busch post-race at Michigan.
2003 Carolina Dodge Dealers 400
20 years ago Kurt Busch cemented his place in NASCAR history. Driver 97 was on the losing end of the closest finish ever. Busch losing power steering late caused Ricky Craven to close in, making the final three laps a knockdown drag-out affair. Craven beat Busch by a bumper for the closest finish in NASCAR history, 0.002 seconds. This would be the closest Busch ever came to Darlington victory lane, a feat he still regrets not checking off.
2004 Siemans 400
2004 was a year of great change for NASCAR, starting with the inaugural Chase for the Cup playoff format and new title sponsor Nextel. The very first Chase race of this new era took place at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. That day, Kurt Busch was the victor from the pole. The dominant Busch led 155 of 300 laps, firmly asserting himself in the title hunt.
2004 Ford 400
Nine weeks later at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Busch would finish fifth. This result was good enough to earn the 2004 Cup Series title. In only his fourth full-time season, Busch was on the sport’s biggest stage as Champion. The No. 97 crew took the inaugural Chase format by storm. Nine top-10s over 10 weeks gave Roush Racing their second-straight championship, and set Busch on the path to NASCAR stardom. Not even a wheel falling off at Homestead could derail the No. 97’s day, beating out four other contenders.
2012 Subway Jalapeno 250
Busch hit career low points with unceremonious exits from both Roush and Penske Racing. Making the shift to backmarker Phoenix Racing in 2012, Busch and this underfunded team had one victory together. In the July Daytona Nationwide Series race, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. pushed Busch to the lead in overtime. While Busch went winless on the Cup side with the No. 51, in Nationwide the No. 1 was P1 for one night.
2014 STP 500
Going winless for two years after leaving Penske, Kurt Busch returned to victory lane at Martinsville in March 2014. In only the sixth start for the expansion Stewart-Haas Racing No. 41 team, Busch beat Jimmie Johnson for a Grandfather Clock. This triumph after being relegated to near obscurity began Busch’s career revival. This breakthrough win set Busch on the path for title contention once again.
2014 Indy 500/Coke 600 Double
Only a few months after his return to victory lane, Kurt Busch joined a very exclusive club by competing in two crown jewel races in the same day. Memorial Day Sunday saw Busch make his IndyCar Series debut in the 98th running of the Indianapolis 500. Busch would take the No. 26 Andretti Autosport Honda to a sixth-place finish, earning Rookie of the Year.
Later that night, Busch took on NASCAR’s marathon race at Charlotte in the Coca-Cola 600. Busch did not fare as well in the second leg of the Memorial Day double. The No. 41 had to retire after blowing a motor on lap 273. Busch became only the fourth driver ever to attempt this 1,100 mile feat. Busch followed the footsteps of John Andretti, Robby Gordon and his team owner Tony Stewart. Kyle Larson will try and add his name to this list next year.
2017 Daytona 500
If the 2004 championship defined Kurt Busch’s early career, his later days were punctuated with the 2017 Daytona 500. After a very attrition-heavy race, Busch had just enough fuel to edge out Kyle Larson on the last lap. In attempt number 17, Busch finally added his name onto the Harley J. Earl Trophy, capping off his NASCAR career with the sport’s ultimate prize.
This race was the first start for Busch and Stewart-Haas with Ford. It also kicked off Monster Energy’s title sponsorship and was the first appearance of Stage racing as well.
2019 Quaker State 400
Moving on from SHR after 2018, Kurt Busch’s new home for 2019 was Chip Ganassi Racing. At Kentucky Speedway in July, Busch took the No. 1 team to their first win in five years. In thrilling overtime fashion, Kurt dueled against younger brother Kyle and came out on top in a Busch 1-2 result. This amazing finish marked Chevrolet’s only Cup Series win at Kentucky Speedway. This victory also came just one week after Busch pitted from the lead under caution at Daytona, handing that rain-shortened win to Justin Haley.
2020 South Point 400
In his 21st try, Kurt Busch finally went to victory lane at his home track in Las Vegas. The 2020 Playoff race was well in control of Denny Hamlin early on. Late cautions and restarts however shook up the running order. In the end, Busch pulled away from Matt DiBenedetto for a hometown triumph. This win locked the 1 into the Round of 8, a huge milestone for the Ganassi team.
2022 Advent Health 400
16 months ago Busch went to victory lane with 23XI Racing, taking home a dominant day at Kansas. Busch had to fend not one but two Kyles, Busch and Larson, to get this win. Only making this win more special was the unique Jordan Brand paint scheme on the No. 45. This would be Busch’s 34th and final career victory, showing that he could still perform in the Next Gen car. 23XI Racing would be the fifth different team Busch took to victory lane. Toyota also became his fourth winning manufacturer.
Mere weeks later, Busch was permanently sidelined with concussion-like symptoms after a Pocono qualifying crash. Busch has remained an integral part of the 23XI family though. The past champion has evolved past the driver’s seat into a very hands-on mentor role within the young team. A self-titled position as “Chief Vision Officer” outlines Busch’s long-term commitment to helping shape 23XI. Busch was in the broadcast booth watching Tyler Reddick take the No. 45 to victory lane again at COTA. This moment only further emphasized his key status within the growing organization.
The driving days of Kurt Busch may sadly be behind us. The future Hall of Famer has unquestionably left an indelible impact on the last two-plus decades of stock car racing though. 34 wins, 339 top-10s, 28 poles and the 2004 Championship all came in 776 career starts. Thanks to his continued presence within 23XI Racing, Busch’s fingerprints will stay on the sport for years to come.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credit to Peter Stratta/TSJSports
