Kurt Busch

#51 Chevrolet

Phoenix Racing

Unknown

August 4, 1978

Started 7 races in 2000. Ran first full season in 2001 finishing a distant second in the Rookie standings behind Kevin Harvick.

2002 First career win spring Bristol Motor Speedway.

2004 NASCAR Cup Champion

2006 - Left Roush Racing for Team Penske

2011 - Fired by Team Penske

Kurt Busch slipped quietly into the Sprint Cup series with seven starts in 2000 and a full schedule in 2001. He never really found his footing in Sprint Cup racing until 2002. In that season he scored not only his first win, but his first four wins in NASCAR's premier division.

Since then he has been a force on the rough and tumble short tracks. His aggressive driving style has rubbed some drivers the wrong way as evidenced by his highly-publicized feud with Jimmy Spencer in 2003.

Kurt Busch is no angel, but he can drive the heck out of a Sprint Cup car as witnessed by his 2004 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship.

Kurt left Roush Racing after the 2005 season to replace Rusty Wallace when he retired from the Penske South #2. Kurt Busch was then fired by Penske after the 2011 season for his unprofessional attitude leaving Kurt to scramble for a competitive ride for 2012.

Kurt landed with James Finch's unsponsored Phoenix Racing team in what has to be a serious letdown from the Chase contender he left. Kurt is a talented and fiercely competitive driver. He will elevate this team, but will it be enough for him to get beyond the middle of the pack?