In a move that has shocked many folks in NASCAR, this winning driver is being booted from his current team and becoming a free agent.
Just six months ago, Kurt Busch took home a stellar win during the Daytona 500 and is currently sitting at 14th place in the Cup Series standings – yet his team did not exercise their option to renew his contract.
Busch, who is currently racing with Stewart-Haas Racing (Partly owned by Tony Stewart), has had a good season so far, so it has caught many off guard as to why SHR wouldn’t jump on the opportunity to put him back in the driver’s seat for 2018.
Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) has more than just Busch on their roster and features fellow drivers, Kevin Harvick, Danica Patrick, Clint Bowyer, and Cole Custer.
According to multiple news reports from NBC Sports and Motorsport, the company had until midnight on August 1st, 2017 to exercise their option for renewal. Since that deadline has passed, it appears that Busch will be a free agent ahead of the 2018 season – unless he inks a new contract with a team.
Busch would be the second NASCAR Cup Series champion to be released from his contract this season, following the announced departure of Matt Kenseth from Joe Gibbs Racing at the end of the 2017 season.
In a bizarre and puzzling twist, SHR addressed the possible departure of Busch in a tweet that implied they are wanting him back for 2018.
We don't comment on contract status, but we expect @KurtBusch back in our @MonsterEnergy / @Haas_Automation Ford in '18. Just sayin'.
— Stewart-Haas Racing (@StewartHaasRcng) August 1, 2017
The team would not comment further on Busch’s status with them, nor why they did not choose to extend/renew his contract for 2018, but as it stands, he will be out of contract when 2018 rolls around.
What do you think of Stewart-Haas Racing’s actions and tweet? Do you think they should let Busch go? Let us know in the comments.