Kurt Busch will be sponsored by Haas Automation if he signs with Stewart-Haas Racing for the 2014 season. Gene Haas, who co-owns SHR with Tony Stewart, told ESPN.com on Saturday he wants the 2004 Sprint Cup champion in one of his cars because he wants to take his non-racing companys name to Victory Lane. ‘Id be happy to have a driver like that on our team’ Haas said before the Sprint Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway. ‘Youd win a lot of races. Id really be happy for my company Haas to be in the winners circle. Ive never been there. I want to be there with that name. I know Kurt has had a lot of sponsorship issues, but to me, I just want to win. Im not too much worried about that stuff.” Haas and the Furniture Row Racing driver began talking about the possibility of him coming to SHR last month during a General Motors dinner in Indianapolis. Not long after that, SHR offered Busch a contract to expand the organization to four teams with Stewart, Kevin Harvick and Danica Patrick. Busch has offers from several other teams, including one from Furniture Row that was given to his attorneys on Friday. Busch has yet to look over the FRR deal and likely wont until Monday. Haas said nothing has been signed as far as he knows, but he is optimistic Busch will come to SHR.( ESPN )(8-25-2013) UPDATE: Kurt Busch has signed a multiyear contract to drive for Stewart-Haas Racing beginning with the 2014 season, Busch told ESPN on Monday morning. ‘Im going to Stewart-Haas’ Busch said. ‘Ive signed my deal.” The SHR organization has said it will hold a news conference Tuesday afternoon ‘to announce the future expansion of Stewart-Haas Racing.” Busch received the offer to drive for Stewart-Haas a week ago and received a subsequent offer from his current team, Furniture Row Racing, last week. He will be the fourth driver in the SHR stable, joining team owner #14-Tony Stewart, #4-Kevin Harvick and #10-Danica Patrick. Busch said Monday that he appreciates greatly the opportunity afforded him at FRR. Asked whether he can maintain focus and help get the #78 team into the Chase, he said, ‘Come Wednesday, thats all Im going to think about.”( ESPN ) AND An official announcement with team co-owner Gene Haas – the man behind the decision – is set for 2:00 pm/et Tuesday at SHR headquarters in Kannapolis, NC. Sources say SHR is attempting to obtain the #00 for Busch to use beginning next season in the Sprint Cup Series.( Charlotte Observer )(8-26-2013) UPDATE 2: Stewart-Haas Racing will expand to four cars in 2014. Kurt Busch, the 2004 Sprint Cup champion and owner of 24 Sprint Cup victories, will drive the Haas Automation Chevy fulltime alongside Stewart in the #14 Bass Pro Shops/Mobil 1 Chevy, Danica Patrick in the #10 GoDaddy Chevy and Kevin Harvick in the #4 Budweiser Chevy beginning in 2014. Its a lineup that features four Sprint Cup championships, 36 poles and 93 wins. ‘Stewart-Haas Racing has proven itself to be a very competitive race team. Every team wants to win, but the preparation and resources Gene Haas and Tony Stewart and everyone at SHR put into their racecars each and every week is incredible’ Busch said. ‘This is the kind of situation every driver wants to be in, and Im grateful to Gene Haas and Haas Automation for providing me this opportunity. I didnt think anyone wanted to win as much as me until I met Gene Haas.” ‘Kurt Busch is a premier talent, one who gives you the opportunity to win races every week and contend for a championship every year’ Haas said. ‘When he became available, we seized the opportunity to make him a part of Stewart-Haas Racing. This is an organization built on winning, and Haas Automation is a company built on performance. Kurt embodies each of those qualities, and its why were investing in his abilities.” ‘Ive had a tremendous amount of respect for Kurts talent and determination for as long as hes been racing in the Sprint Cup Series. Kurt is extremely knowledgeable, and his input will make all of Stewart-Haas Racing better’ said Stewart, still recovering from a broken right tibia and fibula suffered in a sprint car crash Aug. 5 at Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa. ‘When Gene Haas laid out his plans for what he wanted to do in regard to this race teams future, which included bringing Kurt on board in a fourth car, it was impressive. You cant stand still in this business. You have to constantly improve. Genes investment in this race team ensures the success of Stewart-Haas Racing for many years to come.” Work has already begun on the physical expansion of SHR. Land adjacent to the teams existing 140,000-square foot facility is being cleared for construction of a building that will house research and development, a state-of-the-art pit fitness and training center, and multipurpose space for SHR partners.( Stewart Haas Racing )
