FORT WORTH, Texas — On Saturday, Kurt Busch came into the Texas Motor Speedway media center with a somber mood. Track President Eddie Gossage gifted Busch a rocking chair, and then the 2004 Cup Series champion became a bit choked up as he started to announce his retirement.
“I appreciate that, Eddie,” said Busch. “It’s been a tough week. It’s been a good season. Overall, Chip and I have been talking the last couple of months. Our win at Kentucky and the different things that have come into place now, I wanted to bring everyone in together and tell everybody it;s been a good career, it’s been fun. It’s been tough to see how things have changed and how things have gone. Overall, I have Chip to thank for a lot of the different values that I take away–”
Then, Busch ended the joke and said that he will actually be back in the NASCAR Cup Series driving Chip Ganassi Racing’s No. 1 Chevrolet Camaro in 2020.
“Come on,” Busch said. “There’s no time for a rocking chair. This old guy has some kick left in him. This is not a young man’s game out there all the way through. This is for a veteran and with great sponsorship and a great team owner, I am here to announce that we are extending this partnership.”
According to CGR, the deal with Busch and Monster Energy is a multi-year contract.
“He brings a lot on the track,” said Ganassi of Busch. “He brought a lot of guys on that No. 1 team their first Cup win and I think you saw that with the exuberance at Kentucky.”
Busch, who will turn 42 years old next season, will return for a 20th full-time season.
