Nextel Cup champion #97-Kurt Busch will be back to fulfill the final year of his contract with Roush Racing because his car owner will not let him go early. Jack Roush said Busch sought a release for 2006 after telling him earlier this week that he had a deal for 2007 with Roger Penske. “He said, ‘I don’t want to negotiate with you for 2007,'” Roush recalled Friday at Watkins Glen International. “I said, OK, and he said, ‘I want to be released for 2006.’ I said not OK.” Busch said he understood that and is focused on winning another title or two before moving to Penske. He has called the Penske ride an “opportunity of a lifetime,” and a challenge to prove he can win with a different team. He’s hoping something still can be worked out that will permit him to move into the #2 Dodge next season, but didn’t sound optimistic. “It’s Jack’s decision,” he said. “We’ll see what happens.”(ESPN.com/AP)(8-13-2005)
UPDATE – well…maybe: [#6, #16, #17, #97, #99] Car owner Jack Roush is still thinking about letting Nextel Cup champion Kurt Busch out of the final year of his contract in 2006. “We will consider releasing him, but it’s not presumed that we will,” Roush said Monday at Darlington Raceway [Gong Show]. “We’ve got to consider … the interests of our sponsors and the commitments we’ve made to our sponsors and to our people within the organization … to see how it all fits together if we decide to have Kurt drive the #97 car. Right now, the presumption is that he’ll be in the car in 2006 because that’s a commitment he’s made to me and I’ve made commitments to others around that,” Roush said. Last week, Busch signed a deal to drive for Roger Penske in 2007 and asked Roush to be released from his current contract after this season. Roush already faces a high-profile opening next season with Mark Martin’s pending retirement. Roush signed Jamie McMurray to replace Martin in 2007 but does not have anyone lined up to drive the #6 car next year. McMurray wants to leave Chip Ganassi Racing after 2005 but can’t get out of the final year of his agreement. Roush said that’s OK with him. “I don’t want Jamie McMurray to drive for me in 2006,” the owner said. “I want him to do exactly for Chip Ganassi what he’s agreed to do, and I don’t want to interfere with that. There’s no circumstance under which I would consider a bargain or try to make a deal for that to happen.” Roush understood that Busch had a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to go with Penske. Still, “the thing with Kurt’s been tough,” Roush said. “He’s been a challenge in a lot of ways. A lot of talented, bright and effective people are. He knows what he’s looking for and is impatient with the things that don’t line up for him.”(ESPN.com/AP)(8-15-2005)
MORE And we will consider releasing him, but its not presumed that we will, Roush said. Weve got to consider the interest of our sponsors and commitments weve made to our sponsors and our people within the organization to see how it all fits together. If we decide to have Kurt drive that No. 97 car in 2006, in order to make all of our commitments, to make us have the best prospect of being successful and viable from a business point of view, then well ask him to keep his commitment. Roush said it is possible the sponsors for the #97 could ask him to release Busch so their money doesnt support a lame-duck driver next season. Theres a lot of things that might happen, he said. Right now, the presumption is (Kurt will) be in that car in 2006. That is the commitment hes made to me and Ive made commitments to others around that.(The State)(8-16-2005)
