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Kurt Busch to take over No. 2 car

Defending Nextel Cup champion will leave Roush Racing, perhaps as early as 2006

By JIM UTTER

ThatsRacin.com Writer

Reigning Nextel Cup champion Kurt Busch has signed with Penske Racing South to replace retiring driver Rusty Wallace in its No. 2 Dodges, Penske and Roush Racing announced Tuesday.
Less than two hours after Roush said Busch signed with another team for 2007 and asked to be released from his 2006 obligations, Penske Racing released a one-sentence statement saying it had signed Busch "to a multi-year contract to drive for the team beginning with the 2007 season."

Sources confirmed Busch's 2007 deal could make him one of the highest-paid drivers in the sport, if not the highest.

What Penske would do should Busch not get out of his 2006 deal isn't clear, although asking Wallace to remain another season does not appear to be an option, sources said.

Roush officials said a decision will be made at a later date.

"Due to sponsor and team considerations no decision on that request will be made for an indefinite period," the Roush statement said. "Roush Racing will have no further comment at this time."

In an ironic twist, it was Roush Racing that began the sign-the-driver-early wave, by signing Jamie McMurray to a 2007 contract earlier this season to take over the No. 6 Fords of Mark Martin, who is also retiring.

McMurray has, so far, been unable to get out of his 2006 obligations with Chip Ganassi Racing, and Martin has been asked about driving the No. 6 one more season.

If McMurray can't come in for 2006, I don't see RR letting KB loose UNLESS:
(a) His bridges back to Rousch are on fire.
(b) They can land a sponser-friendly Big Name to allow them to jettison the reigning cup champ (only available one I can think of: Mikey).
(c) They want to reduce car count if sponsors continue to be difficult to keep.

Rousch Racing has had little difficulty in getting/keeping good "name" drivers, but this presents the chance to lose 2 this year (Martin/Busch).