Editing Kurt Busch (section)

== Racing career ==

=== Beginnings ===
Busch began his racing career at age 14 in a Dwarf car at Pahrump Valley Speedway,<ref name="2000UMItruck2">2000 NASCAR Preview and Press Guide. 2000. UMI Publications. Page 321&nbsp;– profile of 2000 season Craftsman Truck Series drivers.</ref> introduced to the sport by his father.<ref name="2000UMI2">2000 NASCAR Preview and Press Guide. 2000. UMI Publications. Page 437&nbsp;– profile of 1999 Featherlite Southwest Series champion (Kurt Busch).</ref> He also competed in [[IMCA Modified]] racing early in his career.<ref name="DJD2">{{cite web |title=Kurt Busch: Career Comeback |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/298-kurt-busch-career-comeback/id603707723?i=1000475127658 |access-date=October 5, 2020 |website=Apple Podcasts |publisher=Dirty Mo Media}}</ref>

Busch's big break came under unfortunate circumstances when [[Chris Trickle]], a promising driver, was critically injured in an unsolved shooting and later died.<ref name="LVW2">{{cite web |last=Katsilometes |first=John |date=February 28, 2008 |title=A Checkered Saga |url=http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/news/archive/2008/feb/28/a-checkered-saga/ |access-date=August 13, 2013 |work=[[Las Vegas Weekly]] |location=Las Vegas, NV}}</ref> Trickle's No. 70 team, sponsored by Star Nursery, sought a replacement driver, giving Busch the opportunity to step in. He gained national attention in the 1997 [[Winter Heat Series]] at [[Tucson Speedway]], competing against notable drivers like [[Ron Hornaday Jr.]], [[Matt Crafton]], [[Greg Biffle]], and [[Kevin Harvick]].

In 1998, Busch won Rookie of the Year in the [[NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series]],<ref>[http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=23225&FS=NHRA Chevrolet 1998 Season Review] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606154348/http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=23225&FS=NHRA|date=June 6, 2011}}, December 8, 1998; motor sport.com. Retrieved February 15, 2008</ref> and went on to secure the series championship in 1999.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chevy Adds to Win Tally in '99 |url=https://www.theautochannel.com/news/press/date/19991221/press004810.html |access-date=2024-04-27 |website=www.theautochannel.com}}</ref> His success earned him a spot in the [[Roush Racing]] "[[Roush Racing: Driver X|Gong Show]]," where he won a [[Craftsman Truck Series]] ride. Driving the No. 99 [[Ford F-150]],<ref name="2000UMItruck2" /> Busch achieved four victories, finished second in the championship standings to teammate Greg Biffle, and was named Rookie of the Year.

===NASCAR===

==== Roush Racing ====

===== 2000–2005 =====
[[File:NASCAR_BuschNemechek_Cars.jpg|right|thumb|250x250px|Busch (97) and [[Joe Nemechek]] (01) at [[Talladega Superspeedway]] in 2005.]]
Roush Racing announced during the 2000 season that Busch would bypass the Busch Series, for the Winston Cup Series for 2001, replacing [[Chad Little]] in the No. 97 Ford.<ref>{{cite web |title=Busch earns high marks |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2000/sep/18/busch-earns-high-marks/ |website=Las Vegas Sun |access-date=18 April 2025 |location=Las Vegas, NV |date=September 18, 2000}}</ref> Little was released early, allowing Busch to take over the No. 97 [[John Deere]] Ford at Dover in September 2000. Busch competed in seven of the final eight races that season, with [[Jeff Hammond (NASCAR)|Jeff Hammond]] as his crew chief, while Little drove at Talladega. Busch's best finish during this stint was 13th at Charlotte.

Busch began the 2001 season driving an unsponsored car after John Deere ended its sponsorship of the No. 97 car following 2000. Later that year, Roush Racing secured a multi-year deal with [[Rubbermaid]], with its [[Sharpie (marker)|Sharpie marker]] brand becoming Busch's primary sponsor. Busch recorded three Top 5 finishes and six Top 10 finishes during the season. In the [[2001 Daytona 500]], Busch had a notable encounter with [[Dale Earnhardt]]. On lap 85, the two made door-to-door contact, prompting Earnhardt to flash Busch a middle-finger gesture at {{Convert|185|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}. The moment, captured by [[Fox Sports]] replay cameras, led broadcaster [[Mike Joy]] to comment, "Kurt, you're number one." Reflecting on the incident, Busch described it as his only on-track interaction with Earnhardt, who tragically died in a crash on the race's final lap. Busch remains the last active driver to have raced against Earnhardt in the Cup Series.

Busch secured his best finish of the season with a 3rd-place result at the spring Talladega race, just three weeks after earning his first career Top 5 at Texas (fourth). He also claimed a 5th-place finish in the [[2001 Brickyard 400|Brickyard 400]] at [[Indianapolis Motor Speedway|Indianapolis]]. However, his season was marred by misfortune, particularly in the second half. At the [[Southern 500]] in Darlington, he led 74 laps before crashing out. At Martinsville, he led 38 laps but suffered a cut tire in heavy traffic, causing significant damage. At Rockingham, overheating issues hindered his performance despite leading 45 laps. He also failed to qualify for the penultimate race in Atlanta. Busch wrapped up the season with a 21st-place finish at the postponed race in New Hampshire, ending 27th in points and second to [[Kevin Harvick]] in the [[NASCAR Rookie of the Year#Cup Series|Rookie of the Year]] standings.

The 2002 season marked Busch's breakout year in the Winston Cup Series. He secured his first victory at the [[2002 Food City 500|Food City 500]] in [[Bristol Motor Speedway|Bristol]], outdueling [[Jimmy Spencer]] on worn tires. Busch went on to win at Martinsville in October, Atlanta the following week, and the season finale at Homestead, totaling four wins. He also achieved 12 Top 5 finishes, 20 Top 10 finishes, and one pole position, finishing 3rd in the final points standings and {{Usd|}}5,105,394 in prize money. Busch dominated the end of the season, winning three of the final five races and leading laps in the other two. He became the first driver in NASCAR history to win the most races in his first winning season, a record later matched by [[Carl Edwards]] in 2005.

Busch had a mixed season in 2003. He secured four wins, including a season sweep at Bristol, becoming the first driver to achieve this since [[Rusty Wallace]] in 2000. Despite these victories, inconsistent performances later in the year caused him to fall out of the Top 10 in points, finishing 11th overall with nine Top 5 finishes and 14 Top 10's. However, he earned over {{Usd|}}5 million for the season. Busch also played a role in NASCAR history during the [[2003 Carolina Dodge Dealers 400|Carolina Dodge Dealers 400]] at [[Darlington Raceway|Darlington]] on March 16. In the closing laps, he and [[Ricky Craven]] battled intensely for the lead, both wrestling with loose cars. Busch held the lead entering the final corner, but Craven drew nearly even exiting Turn 4. The two cars repeatedly made contact as they raced to the finish line. Craven edged Busch by just .002 seconds, marking the closest finish in NASCAR history at the time.

In 2004, Busch won three races, earned two poles, and captured the inaugural NASCAR Nextel Cup Championship, the first season to feature "[[NASCAR playoffs#Cup Series|The Chase for the Championship.]]" He achieved his fourth consecutive win at Bristol by taking the [[2004 Food City 500|Food City 500]] in March, marking his third straight victory in that event. Busch also became the second driver to sweep both races at [[New Hampshire Motor Speedway]] in a single season. However, the championship almost slipped away during the final race at [[Homestead–Miami Speedway|Homestead]]. On lap 93, Busch reported a flat right-front tire and entered the access road leading to pit road. As he approached the pits, the wheel came off his car, causing him to veer sharply left and narrowly avoid hitting the yellow barrels at the pit road entrance. If he had struck the barrels, his championship hopes would have been over. The loose wheel brought out a caution, but Busch recovered, regained his positions, and secured the title. He ended the season with 10 Top 5 finishes and 21 Top 10 finishes.

In 2005, midway through the season, Busch announced that he would be leaving Roush Racing at the end of the year to replace [[Rusty Wallace]] in the No. 2 [[Miller Lite]] [[Dodge]] for [[NASCAR operations of Team Penske|Penske Racing South]]. Initially, Roush was upset with Busch's decision, but the situation changed when [[Chip Ganassi Racing]] revealed that [[Jamie McMurray]] wanted to join Roush Racing in 2006. As a result, Roush agreed to release Busch. Although Busch had asked team owner Jack Roush to let him out of his contract at the end of 2005,<ref>{{cite web |last=Jeff |first=Owens |title=Team owner Jack Roush has no use for former Roush Fenway Racing driver Kurt Busch... |url=http://nascar.speedtv.com/article/cup-jack-roush-disses-kurt-busch/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303182802/http://nascar.speedtv.com/article/cup-jack-roush-disses-kurt-busch |archive-date=March 3, 2012 |access-date=June 4, 2012}}</ref> Roush initially refused. However, when it became clear that Busch had already signed a contract with Roger Penske, Roush decided to let him go. Busch's final race with Roush Racing was at Texas, after which he was sidelined for the last two races of the season due to a NASCAR suspension following an incident with the police. Busch had a strong 2005 season, winning three races, earning nine Top 5 finishes, and 18 Top 10 finishes in 34 races. He also posted an average finish of 15.3, which helped him finish 10th in the final points standings.

==== Penske Racing ====

===== 2006–2011 =====
[[File:KurtBuschBristol2006.jpg|right|thumb|Busch celebrating after winning the [[2006 Food City 500]].]]
In the 2006 season, driving for [[NASCAR operations of Team Penske|Penske]], Busch won the [[2006 Food City 500|Food City 500]] at Bristol Motor Speedway, his fifth win at the track. He celebrated by making a [[snow angel]] on the track due to snow that weekend. Busch also secured six poles, seven Top 5 finishes, and 12 Top 10 finishes, but finished the season 16th in the points standings. He made his [[Busch Series]] debut for Penske in the No. 39 Dodge at Texas, winning in his first race. Busch added a second win at Watkins Glen by holding off [[Robby Gordon]] on the final lap. He compared the battle to his 2003 Darlington finish against [[Ricky Craven]], where he lost by just an inch. Busch missed the Chase for the first time in 2006.

In the 2007 season, Busch secured two wins, one pole, five Top 5 finishes, and 10 Top 10 finishes over 26 races, earning a spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. His on-track performance improved significantly after [[Pat Tryson]] joined as his crew chief midway through the season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 4, 2009 |title=Kurt Busch No. 2 Miller Lite News - Raceway Report |url=http://www.gnextinc.com/nascar/drivers/news/kurt_busch.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090504174458/http://www.gnextinc.com/nascar/drivers/news/kurt_busch.html |archive-date=May 4, 2009}}</ref> Additionally, Busch competed in four more Busch Series races, achieving two Top 5 finishes and three Top 10 finishes.
[[File:Kurt_Busch_2008_Miller_Lite_Dodge_Charger.jpg|left|thumb|Kurt Busch's 2008 Sprint Cup Series racecar]]
In 2008, to guarantee rookie [[Sam Hornish Jr.]] a starting spot in the first five races, points from Busch's No. 2 car were transferred to Hornish's No. 77. Busch was still assured a spot due to NASCAR’s Champion’s Provisional Rule, which automatically qualifies the most recent series champion—Busch, with his 2004 title—if they're not in the Top 35 of owner points. During the [[2008 Daytona 500]], Busch had a fast car and was in contention for the win. On the final lap, he pushed teammate [[Ryan Newman (racing driver)|Ryan Newman]] past [[Joe Gibbs Racing]] drivers [[Tony Stewart]] and [[Kyle Busch]], allowing Newman to win. It was Penske’s first Daytona 500 victory and made him one of the few owners to win both the [[Indianapolis 500]] and Daytona 500. On June 29, 2008, Busch broke a 29-race winless streak with a rain-shortened victory at New Hampshire, his first win since Michigan in 2007 and 18th career win. Despite the victory, Busch missed the Chase and finished 18th in points.

Busch began his 2009 season at the [[2009 Daytona 500|Daytona 500]], where he was involved in a wreck on lap 124 when [[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]] swerved into [[Brian Vickers]]. Vickers hit the wall, ricocheted into [[Denny Hamlin]], who then collided with Busch. Kurt spun into the grass with eight other drivers, including his brother Kyle. After multiple pit stops, he finished 10th. Busch, along with others, believed Earnhardt's contact was intentional and called for a penalty, but NASCAR did not penalize him. Busch qualified 4th for the next race at [[Auto Club Speedway]], finishing 5th, which moved him up to 3rd in points. He dominated the 2009 Kobalt Tools 500, leading 235 of 325 laps and securing his 19th Sprint Cup victory. At [[Las Vegas Motor Speedway|Las Vegas]], he shared a touching moment with his brother Kyle after Kyle’s win, with [[Darrell Waltrip]] calling it "the most touching thing I have ever seen."<ref name="fixedref542">{{cite web |title=Why I Love NASCAR |url=http://www.skirtsandscuffs.com/2012/03/why-i-love-nascar-las-vegas-by-chief.html |access-date=December 5, 2018 |website=Skirts and Scuffs}}</ref> Kurt remained in the Top 5 for the rest of the season, qualified for the Chase, and finished 4th, the highest-ranked driver not with [[Hendrick Motorsports]]. He earned another victory at the 2009 Dickies 500 after Kyle ran out of fuel with two laps to go.

In 2010, [[Steve Addington]] became Busch's crew chief after two seasons with [[Kyle Busch]], where he helped secure 14 wins. Addington replaced Pat Tryson, who left to join [[Michael Waltrip Racing]]. On May 22, 2010, Kurt won the [[2010 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race|NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race]] and followed it with a victory in the [[2010 Coca-Cola 600|Coca-Cola 600]], becoming just the seventh driver to win both in the same year. Busch made the Chase, seeded 5th in points, and finished an impressive 7th at Daytona in the [[2010 Coke Zero 400|Coke Zero 400]] despite three wrecks in the final 12 laps. He finished 11th in the Chase standings.
[[File:Kurt_Busch_Pocono_2011.jpg|right|thumb|Kurt Busch's No. 22 at [[Pocono Raceway]] in 2011.]]
In 2011, Busch and Keselowski swapped teams. Busch took over the renumbered No. 22 Dodge. He won his first [[2011 Budweiser Shootout|Budweiser Shootout]] after [[Denny Hamlin]] went below the yellow line at Daytona, followed by a victory in the [[Gatorade Duel|Gatorade Duel 1]]. Due to [[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]]'s crash in practice, Busch started first in the [[2011 Daytona 500]], making it three wins in a row to start the season. During the [[2011 Crown Royal Presents the Matthew and Daniel Hansen 400|Crown Royal 400]] at [[Richmond Raceway|Richmond]], Busch launched a profanity-laced tirade on his in-car radio, seemingly directed at Penske technical director Tom German.<ref name="GermanRant3">{{cite magazine |last1=James |first1=Brant |date=5 May 2011 |title=Brant James: Kurt Busch's Richmond radio rant, NASCAR's free agents, more news and notes |url=https://www.si.com/more-sports/2011/05/05/kurt-buschnascar |access-date=16 November 2023 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en-us}}</ref>
[[File:Kurt_Busch_Sonoma_2011.jpg|right|thumb|Kurt competing in the [[2011 Toyota/Save Mart 350]] at [[Sonoma Raceway|Sonoma]], a race he would go on to win.]]
Busch won the pole and dominated the race at Kansas by leading 152 laps, but a late fuel pickup issue cost him a victory, which went to his teammate [[Brad Keselowski]]. On June 26, Busch secured his first road course win at [[Infineon Raceway]], leading 76 laps. After Keselowski was injured in a practice crash at [[Road Atlanta]], Busch filled in for him at the [[Zippo 200]] at [[Watkins Glen International]], where he claimed the pole and won the race. By August 13, 2011, Busch had won 25% of his Nationwide Series starts. On October 2, he earned his first victory at [[Dover Motor Speedway|Dover's Monster Mile]], leading the final 43 laps after two late restarts and beating [[Jimmie Johnson]]. This would ultimately be his last win for [[NASCAR operations of Team Penske|Penske Racing]]. The season ended on a sour note as Busch struggled in the final five races. Tensions peaked when he verbally attacked an [[ESPN]] cameraman and made an obscene gesture after a transmission failure during the season finale.<ref name="BuschEspn2">{{cite news |date=June 4, 2012 |title=Kurt Busch still struggling with anger |url=https://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/notebook?page=MondayRundown20120604&_slug_=nascar-monday-rundown-kurt-busch-struggling-anger-issues |access-date=October 13, 2012 |work=Newton, David}}</ref> Crew chief [[Steve Addington]] departed for [[Stewart–Haas Racing]] following the 2011 season.

===== First media incidents and release =====
During the post-race interview at the fall Richmond race, Busch made headlines with his fiery behavior. On [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], Busch claimed he was "in [Johnson's] head."<ref name="BuschRichmondApology2">{{cite web |last1=Newton |first1=David |date=13 September 2011 |title=Kurt Busch apologizes for media confrontations |url=https://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/cup/story/_/id/6967100/kurt-busch-apologizes-reporters-confrontations |access-date=16 November 2023 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> The situation escalated after the race when NASCAR.com reporter Joe Menzer asked Busch if either he or Johnson could win the Chase. Busch, visibly agitated, interrupted Menzer, saying, "How did I see you were going to come with that? We’re good," before attempting to walk away. However, the exchange took a turn when Busch shouted expletives and physically confronted Menzer, prompting Penske team members to restrain him.<ref name="BuschRichmondApology2" /> Later, during a press conference, AP journalist Jenna Fryer asked Johnson about Busch's comment from the ABC interview. Busch interjected, denying he made the statement, saying, "I didn't say that tonight. Did not." Fryer offered to show him the transcript, which Busch reviewed after the interview. In a dramatic gesture, Busch tore up the transcript and left the media center.<ref name="BuschRichmondApology2" />  Busch later apologized to both Menzer and Fryer for his conduct.<ref name="BuschRichmondApology2" />

At the start of the [[2011 Sylvania 300|Sylvania 300]] at [[New Hampshire Motor Speedway]], Busch's team faced a delay in rolling their car to pit road due to a pre-race inspection issue. The rear-end housing was found to be outside of allowable tolerances, causing the setback. As ESPN reporter [[Jamie Little]] approached Busch to ask a question, he responded curtly, expressing frustration: "Why the fuck do you think I would be OK? I gotta go get in my car. NASCAR told me I gotta get in my car."<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Spencer |first=Reid |title=Inspection failure gets Kurt Busch's day off to rocky start |url=http://www.sportingnews.com/nascar/story/2011-09-25/inspection-failure-gets-kurt-buschs-day-off-to-rocky-start |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402163600/http://www.sportingnews.com/nascar/story/2011-09-25/inspection-failure-gets-kurt-buschs-day-off-to-rocky-start |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |magazine=Sporting News}}</ref>

During the final race of the 2011 season, Busch's transmission failed on the third lap. While his car was being repaired, Busch verbally abused an ESPN cameraman while he was waiting to get interviewed by [[Jerry Punch|Dr. Jerry Punch]] where he said "can you get this motherfucker out of my face?" Eventually, Dr. Punch opted to not interview Busch. The incident, captured by a fan and posted on YouTube, drew widespread criticism. NASCAR fined Busch {{Usd|}}50,000 for his conduct, and Penske Racing issued an apology for his "inappropriate actions."<ref>{{cite news |date=November 30, 2011 |title=Kurt Busch's latest outburst may cost him his spot at Penske Racing |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/tim_tuttle/11/30/kurt.busch.done.at.penske.racing/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714091430/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/tim_tuttle/11/30/kurt.busch.done.at.penske.racing/index.html |archive-date=July 14, 2012 |publisher=CNN}}</ref> Later, during Championship Week, Busch addressed the incident, revealing that he had been working with a sports psychologist for two months to address personal issues. He acknowledged the need to improve his behavior, stating, "I need to be a better person on the radio, to the team, as a leader. It's personal issues, of course, and working with a sports psychologist, I've gotten obviously a small grasp, but there are obviously bigger things that I need to accomplish and things can't happen overnight".<ref>{{Cite news |title=Kurt Busch seeing psychologist to address 'personal issues' |url=http://www.cbssports.com/nascar/story/16310779/kurt-busch-seeing-psychologist-to-address-personal-issues |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20150924115421/http://www.cbssports.com/nascar/story/16310779/kurt-busch-seeing-psychologist-to-address-personal-issues |archive-date=2015-09-24 |access-date=2024-12-14 |work=CBSSports.com |language=en}}</ref>

On December 5, 2011, Busch's employment with Penske Racing ended. While both parties described the separation as mutual,<ref name="KurtBusch.com2">{{cite news |author=Kurt Busch |date=December 5, 2011 |title=KURT BUSCH STATEMENT ON MUTUAL AGREEMENT TO LEAVE PENSKE RACING |url=http://www.kurtbusch.com/ |access-date=December 5, 2011}}</ref> many observers believed he was fired.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-12-05 |title=Penske Racing splits with Kurt Busch - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/penske-racing-splits-with-kurt-busch/ |access-date=2024-12-14 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref> According to ''[[The Charlotte Observer]]'', multiple sources confirmed that team owner Roger Penske made the decision after Busch's altercation at Homestead-Miami Speedway, viewing it as the final incident in a tumultuous tenure.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Penske, Kurt Busch to reportedly part ways after meltdown in Miami |url=http://www.cbssports.com/nascar/story/16343021/penske-kurt-busch-to-reportedly-part-ways |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115012815/http://www.cbssports.com/nascar/story/16343021/penske-kurt-busch-to-reportedly-part-ways |archive-date=November 15, 2012 |access-date=December 8, 2011}}</ref> The announcement was reportedly delayed until after Champion's Week. [[A. J. Allmendinger]] was named as his replacement in the No. 22 car.

==== Phoenix Racing ====

===== 2012: Second winless season =====
[[File:Kurt_Busch_Phoenix_Racing_Chevrolet_Texas_April_2012.jpg|right|thumb|Busch during practice for the [[2012 Samsung Mobile 500]] at [[Texas Motor Speedway]]]]
After his release from Penske Racing, Busch acknowledged that he was no longer "having fun" with racing and decided to seek therapy for his anger issues while focusing on restoring his enjoyment of the sport. Busch declined an offer from [[Richard Petty Motorsports]] and instead opted for an early-season agreement to drive the No. 51 Chevrolet for [[Phoenix Racing (NASCAR team)|Phoenix Racing]] in the [[2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series|2012 Sprint Cup Series season]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Spencer |first=Lee |date=December 22, 2011 |title=Kurt Busch reaches deal for 2012 ride |url=http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/story/Former-NASCAR-Sprint-Cup-Champion-Kurt-Busch-finds-new-ride-for-2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107124650/http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/story/Former-NASCAR-Sprint-Cup-Champion-Kurt-Busch-finds-new-ride-for-2012 |archive-date=January 7, 2012 |access-date=December 22, 2011 |work=Fox Sports}}</ref> He also explored potential opportunities with [[Michael Waltrip Racing]], [[Furniture Row Racing]], and [[Richard Childress Racing]].<ref name="DJD2" /> Additionally, Busch competed in a limited Nationwide Series schedule with Phoenix Racing.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 9, 2012 |title=Busch adds Nationwide races with Phoenix |url=http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/story/Kurt-Busch-to-run-NASCAR-Nationwide-Series-races-with-Phoenix-Racing-010912 |access-date=January 15, 2012 |work=Fox Sports}}</ref> During this time, Busch also established a sponsorship deal with [[Monster Energy]]. Through this partnership, he signed on with [[Kyle Busch Motorsports]] to share the No. 54 car in the Nationwide Series with his younger brother, [[Kyle Busch]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Owens |first=Jeff |date=January 19, 2012 |title=Busch brothers to share Nationwide Series ride with Kyle Busch Motorsports |url=http://www.scenedaily.com/news/articles/nationwideseries/Busch_brothers_to_share_Nationwide_Series_ride_with_Kyle_Busch_Motorsports.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121071218/http://www.scenedaily.com/news/articles/nationwideseries/Busch_brothers_to_share_Nationwide_Series_ride_with_Kyle_Busch_Motorsports.html |archive-date=January 21, 2012 |access-date=January 19, 2012 |publisher=SceneDaily.com}}</ref>

At the [[2012 Aaron's 499]] at [[Talladega Superspeedway|Talladega]], Busch paid tribute to the 2006 racing comedy ''[[Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby]]'' by running his No. 51 car in the paint scheme of Ricky Bobby's No. 62 "ME" Cougar car from the film. [[NASCAR on Fox]] commentators [[Mike Joy]], [[Larry McReynolds]], and [[Darrell Waltrip]] jokingly referred to Busch as "Ricky Bobby" throughout the race, while Busch quoted lines from the movie over team radio. Busch spent months securing permission from [[Sony]], [[Will Ferrell]], and other rights holders to use the design. Notably, parallels were drawn between Busch's real-life struggles during the 2011–12 Sprint Cup offseason and Ricky Bobby's fictional fall from grace.<ref>{{cite news |date=May 5, 2012 |title=Talladega gets ready for the Ballad of Kurt Busch |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/nascar/story/2012-05-05/kurt-busch-talladega-nights-ricky-bobby/54771926/1 |work=USA Today}}</ref> Busch's car performed well, running near the front and leading a few laps. However, with six laps remaining, he spun out in the trioval after contact with former teammate Brad Keselowski. After stopping, Busch drove backward down pit road to get new tires. Despite the unconventional move, he avoided penalties and finished 20th, the last car on the lead lap.

At Darlington, Busch collided with [[Ryan Newman (racing driver)|Ryan Newman]], ending both drivers' races. Busch was fined {{Usd|}}50,000 and placed on a five-race probation, while Newman received no penalty. Busch ultimately finished 21st, the last car on the lead lap.
[[File:Busch_engine.jpg|left|thumb|Busch's engine fails at the [[2012 FedEx 400]]]]
On June 4, 2012, Busch clashed with [[Justin Allgaier]] during the Nationwide event at Dover. Later, in an interview with reporter [[Bob Pockrass]], Busch was asked about his probation. He responded, "It refrains me from not beating the shit out of you right now because you ask me stupid questions. But since I'm on probation, I suppose that's improper to say as well. If you can talk about racing things, we'll talk about many things, Bob. It is not racing, you're here just to start stuff, you know that's you're all out here for!"  As a result of this outburst, NASCAR immediately suspended Busch from the Pocono race, citing a violation of its policy against public profanity.<ref>{{cite news |last=Klopman |first=Michael |date=June 4, 2012 |title=Kurt Busch Threatens Reporter Bob Pockrass at Dover International Speedway |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/03/kurt-busch-threatens-reporter-bob-pockrass_n_1566757.html |access-date=June 28, 2013 |work=[[HuffPost]]}}</ref> NASCAR later extended his suspension until June 13, 2012, and lengthened his probation through December 31. Busch had already been on probation for a prior incident involving Ryan Newman's team at the May 12 Sprint Cup race at Darlington, where he was cited for reckless driving through Newman's pit stall.  According to a NASCAR news release, Busch was suspended for violating Section 12-1 of the rulebook, which prohibits "actions detrimental to stock car racing," including "violation of probation" and "verbal abuse of a media member."

On July 6, 2012, Busch won the Nationwide Series [[2012 Subway Jalapeño 250|Subway Jalapeño 250]] at Daytona, overtaking Austin Dillon on the final lap.

During his 7-8 month stint with James Finch, he finished third at Sonoma after leading several laps and running in the top three throughout the race. However, his closest near-miss occurred at Talladega that fall. Busch led early and midway through the race but spun out after contact with [[Jamie McMurray]]. He was parked by NASCAR after driving away from safety officials who were trying to assist him, refusing to stop his car despite NASCAR’s instructions. The following week, he began driving for Furniture Row Racing.

==== Furniture Row Racing ====

===== 2012 =====
On September 24, 2012, it was announced that Busch would drive the No. 78 [[Chevrolet SS]] for [[Furniture Row Racing]] in the 2013 season, replacing [[Regan Smith (racing driver)|Regan Smith]].<ref>{{cite web |date=September 24, 2012 |title=Kurt Busch will race for Furniture Row Racing in 2013 |url=http://seattletimes.com/html/othersports/2019251966_digs25.html |access-date=September 25, 2012 |work=[[The Seattle Times]] |location=Seattle, WA}}</ref> The opportunity arose when then-crew chief [[Todd Berrier]] reached out to Busch to gauge his interest in joining FRR.<ref name="DJD2" /> Busch made his debut for the team at the [[2012 Bank of America 500]], finishing 21st. He followed that with a 25th-place finish at Kansas. However, he rebounded with three consecutive Top 10 finishes at Texas, Phoenix, and Homestead to close out the season. Despite the strong finish, Busch missed the Chase for the first time since 2008 and ended the year 25th in the points standings.

===== 2013: Return to The Chase =====
[[File:Kurt_Busch_78_Las_Vegas_2013.jpg|left|thumb|Kurt Busch's No. 78 at [[Las Vegas Motor Speedway]] in 2013.]]
The 2013 season for Busch began similarly to 2012, as he joined a new team, Furniture Row Racing (FRR). However, Busch showed notable improvement over his challenging 2012 season, both individually and with FRR. His start to the year was rough, as he crashed during the [[2013 Sprint Unlimited|Sprint Unlimited]] on lap 14, finishing 13th. He placed fifth in the [[Budweiser Duel]] but struggled with handling issues, leading to a 28th-place finish in the [[2013 Daytona 500|Daytona 500]], five laps down. His performance didn’t improve much at Phoenix, where he finished 27th, one lap down. He then placed 20th at Las Vegas. After these less successful finishes, Busch bounced back with a strong performance, securing a 4th-place finish at Bristol.

At Fontana, Busch briefly went a lap down due to a penalty for speeding during green-flag pit stops but rallied in the final laps to finish 3rd, behind his brother Kyle and [[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]] At Martinsville, Busch's luck soured. After an early crash and a successful lucky dog pass, he lost his brakes on lap 487 while running many laps down and hit the wall hard, causing his engine to catch fire. The incident led to a 6-minute red flag, but Busch was uninjured.

At Texas, Busch nearly secured the pole position with a qualifying speed of {{Convert|195.688|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}. However, his younger brother, Kyle, ultimately claimed the pole with a speed of {{Convert|196.299|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, closing out the qualifying session. Busch started second, still on the front row, but expressed disappointment at losing the pole, saying, "I would rather lose to Kyle than anybody else... it is frustrating that I do lose it to him though."

At Richmond, Busch led for 36 laps and was a contender for the win. However, after a late restart, he collided with [[Tony Stewart]], bumping him out of the top ten. Post-race, the two exchanged shoves and argued on pit road, overshadowing [[Kevin Harvick|Kevin Harvick's]] victory. Both were called to the NASCAR hauler. Busch finished ninth and stated he didn’t intentionally hit Stewart and was surprised by Stewart’s retaliation. At Talladega, Busch led two laps and was in the top ten when he was caught in a massive wreck on lap 182. [[J. J. Yeley]], after contact with [[Ricky Stenhouse Jr.]], hit Busch, causing him to flip and land on [[Ryan Newman (racing driver)|Ryan Newman]] before striking the wall and getting hit by [[Clint Bowyer]] and [[Bobby Labonte]]. Busch was unharmed.

At Darlington, Busch earned his first pole of the season and led 69 of the first 80 laps. However, his handling deteriorated after the green flag pit stops, and he finished 14th. In the All-Star race, Busch led 29 laps and won two of the four 20-lap segments, with his brother Kyle winning the other two. A poor pit stop for both Busch brothers cost them the lead, and Kurt finished 5th in the final ten-lap shootout, won by [[Jimmie Johnson]].

At [[2013 Coca-Cola 600|the Coca-Cola 600]] a week later, Busch started 2nd, on the outside of the front row. Despite having to change a battery late in the race, he led eight laps and finished 3rd, marking his first Top 3 finish since June 2012 at Sonoma. When interviewed, he said, "Yeah, a top-five is great. To be up front, to lead laps, that's what it's all about. So we'll get these little hiccups polished up and continue plugging forward. That's the only thing we can do, is learn from what exactly happened – was it a cable issue, a battery that was dead, was the alternator not charging? To show our strength tonight, to finish third, we'll take it. I think that's what needs to be said. The Furniture Row team was fast, and we didn't quite have a perfect night, and we brought it home third."<ref>"[http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2013/05/26/kurt-busch-coca-cola-600-finish.html Kurt Busch comes oh-so close at Charlotte] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607162047/http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2013/05/26/kurt-busch-coca-cola-600-finish.html|date=June 7, 2013}}"</ref>

Busch earned a 12th-place finish at Dover and a 7th-place result at Pocono. At Michigan, he qualified on the front row and led the first 21 laps, but fell seven laps down after an early accident on lap 30. At Sonoma, Busch secured his next Top 5 finish with a 4th-place result, after leading 15 laps and recovering from a lap down following two speeding penalties on pit road.

At Kentucky, Busch was involved in a controversy on lap 48 when he caused a seven-car wreck. He went down to the apron, then came back up and turned Keselowski into turn 1, triggering a crash that also involved [[Greg Biffle]], [[Travis Kvapil]], and [[Dave Blaney]]. Busch finished 6th and followed that with another 6th-place finish at the Coke Zero 400, marking Furniture Row Racing's first-ever streak of three consecutive top-ten finishes. This moved Busch up to 9th in points. However, at Loudon the next week, Busch started 2nd, led 102 laps, but was turned and wrecked by [[Matt Kenseth]], finishing 31st.

At Indianapolis, Busch finished 14th. The following week at Pocono, he led nine laps and secured a 3rd-place finish. He then earned a 9th-place finish at Watkins Glen. Back at Michigan, Busch started on the outside of the front row, led 43 laps, and finished 3rd, moving up to 9th in the driver points standings.

At Bristol in August, Busch started from the outside row and led 54 laps early. However, a loose wheel forced him behind the wall, resulting in a 31st-place finish, 26 laps down. He rebounded in the next two weeks, finishing 4th at Atlanta. The following week at Richmond, Busch started 2nd and had one of the strongest cars of the night, ultimately finishing second to [[Carl Edwards]]. This also marked Furniture Row Racing's first-ever appearance in the Chase.

At Chicagoland, Busch began the Chase with a 4th-place finish. He then finished 13th at New Hampshire and 21st at Dover after pitting for a loose wheel. At Kansas, Busch had to start at the rear of the field due to a practice crash that required a backup car. Despite the setback, he worked his way through the pack to finish second. This marked his tenth Top 5 and fifteenth Top 10 finishes in 30 races. Busch ultimately finished 10th in the final standings.

In 2013, Busch was scheduled to drive the No. 1 Chevrolet for [[Phoenix Racing (NASCAR team)|Phoenix Racing]] in the [[Nationwide Series]], with plans to compete in sixteen events. However, he participated in only three races that season. He wrecked at Daytona but achieved Top 10 finishes at Talladega and in the second race at Daytona.

==== Stewart-Haas Racing ====
On August 26, 2013, Kurt Busch announced his departure from Furniture Row Racing to join [[Stewart–Haas Racing]] under a multi-year contract. Team co-owner [[Gene Haas]] confirmed he would fully sponsor Busch's ride.<ref>{{cite web |date=August 26, 2013 |title=Kurt Busch to Join Stewart-Haas Racing in 2014 |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/kurt-busch-join-stewart-haas-racing-2014-20070372 |access-date=August 26, 2013 |publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> By late September, it was revealed that Busch's car would carry the No. 41.<ref>{{cite web |last=Utter |first=Jim |date=September 23, 2013 |title=Kurt Busch's car number in 2014 will be ... |url=http://thatsracinluckydog.blogspot.com/2013/09/of-course-kurt-buschs-car-number-in.html |access-date=September 24, 2013 |work=[[The Charlotte Observer]] |location=Charlotte, NC}}</ref>

===== 2014: Return to Victory Lane =====
[[File:Kurt-Busch-Pocono-2014.png|thumb|Busch at his souvenir trailer signing autographs at the [[2014 Pocono 400]]]]
Busch had a breakout performance for his new team at Fontana. He took the lead late in the race after Jimmie Johnson blew a tire with seven laps to go. On the restart, Busch led against his teammate Tony Stewart but lost the top spot on the final lap when Kyle Busch slipped past to claim the victory.  

The following week at the [[2014 STP 500|STP 500]], Busch found himself in a controversial moment on lap 43. During a caution, he collided with Keselowski on pit road, causing significant damage to Keselowski's car. After repairs, Keselowski returned to the track, leading to several heated on-track exchanges between the two drivers. In the final stages of the race, Busch engaged in a thrilling battle with Jimmie Johnson for the lead. With 11 laps to go, Busch overtook Johnson and held on to secure his first win since 2011 and his first victory at Martinsville since 2002.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ryan |first=Nate |date=March 30, 2014 |title=Kurt Busch holds off Jimmie Johnson to win at Martinsville |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/2014/03/30/kurt-busch-beats-jimmie-johnson-to-win-stp-500-martinsville-nascar-sprint-cup/7085143/ |access-date=March 30, 2014 |newspaper=[[USA Today]]}}</ref>

At Darlington, with just three laps to go and running in the Top 5, Busch was tapped from behind by [[Clint Bowyer]], causing him to spin and crash head-on into a barrier. Thanks to energy-absorbing walls, Busch escaped uninjured. However, under caution, he waved angrily at Bowyer and expressed his frustration during the post-race ceremonies. Reflecting on the incident, Busch stated: "That was a terrible way to end what could have been a decent night. We struggled at times to get the balance of the Haas Automation Chevrolet right, but we kind of found our spot just past the halfway point and made slight adjustments the rest of the way. We called for a two-tire stop at the end hoping to gain some track position, but it seemed like everyone had the same idea. We gained a little, but the guys behind us all had four tires. I tried to hold them off the best I could, but someone (Bowyer) moved me out of their way and it ruined our night. I hate it for the team, but we keep learning each week and we will get better."

At the [[2014 Coca-Cola 600]], Busch attempted to complete all 1,100 miles of the [[2014 Indianapolis 500|Indianapolis 500]] and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. However, his effort fell 194 miles short when his engine failed on lap 274, leaving him with 271 of the 400 laps completed.
[[File:Kurt_Busch_Sonoma_2014.jpg|right|thumb|Kurt competing in the [[2014 Toyota/Save Mart 350]] at [[Sonoma Raceway|Sonoma]].]]
At Pocono, Busch qualified third and led five laps during the race. He consistently ran in the Top 5 throughout the day and secured a 3rd-place finish, his best result since winning at Martinsville.

At Daytona, Busch qualified 42nd but managed to lead the most laps during the race. However, on lap 111, [[Aric Almirola]] passed him. Just five laps later, rain began soaking the speedway, and the race was called off on lap 116. In a post-race interview, a disappointed Busch stated, "I didn't do my job. Third is good, but I wanted to win." Following the race, Busch was penalized 10 points, and crew chief [[Daniel Knost]] was fined {{Usd|}}10,000 due to an illegal window component that had been inadvertently installed before the race. Busch chose not to appeal the penalty.

After the Daytona race, Busch's performance improved significantly. He secured Top 5 finishes at both Pocono and Watkins Glen. Midway through the Chase, Knost stepped down as Busch's crew chief and was replaced by [[Tony Gibson (auto racing)|Tony Gibson]]. With Gibson's guidance, Busch's performance further improved, consistently qualifying in the top ten for the remaining races. His best finishes during the Chase were two 7th-place results, achieved at Talladega and Phoenix.

===== 2015 =====
[[File:Kurt_Busch_(19078711464).jpg|thumb|Busch racing at the [[2015 Toyota/Save Mart 350]], in which he took second place behind his {{Tooltip|brother|Kyle Busch}}, who took first]]
Busch began his 2015 season on a rough note during the [[2015 Sprint Unlimited|Sprint Unlimited]], where he was involved in two multi-car accidents. In the second Budweiser Duel, he was running in 2nd place behind [[Jimmie Johnson]] with nine laps remaining. However, Busch accidentally drove below the yellow line, which improved his position. As a result, officials issued a stop-and-go penalty, sending him to the back of the field for the final standings.

On February 20, 2015, NASCAR indefinitely suspended Busch following a Delaware family court's finding that it was "more likely than not" he had abused his ex-girlfriend, Patricia Driscoll. [[Regan Smith (racing driver)|Regan Smith]] replaced Busch for the [[2015 Daytona 500|Daytona 500]] as well as the races in Atlanta and Las Vegas.<ref name="Domestic violence suspension3">{{cite web |last=Bianchi |first=Jordan |date=February 21, 2015 |title=Kurt Busch suspended by NASCAR following domestic abuse allegations |url=https://www.sbnation.com/nascar/2015/2/20/8079325/kurt-busch-suspension-nascar-2015-daytona |access-date=December 5, 2018 |website=SBNation}}</ref> Busch applied for reinstatement ten days after the Daytona 500 and began participating in NASCAR's reinstatement program.

On March 11, 2015, NASCAR lifted Busch's indefinite suspension after Delaware prosecutors determined there was insufficient evidence for a criminal case. He was cleared to race again, starting with the [[2015 CampingWorld.com 500|CampingWorld.com 500]] at Phoenix. NASCAR also granted Busch a waiver, allowing him to remain eligible for the Chase if he won a race before the Richmond event in the fall.<ref>{{cite news |last=Pockrass |first=Bob |date=March 11, 2015 |title=Kurt Busch's NASCAR suspension lifted |url=https://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/cup/story/_/id/12460871/kurt-busch-nascar-suspension-lifted}}</ref> In his first race back, Busch finished 5th. At Auto Club, he won the pole, led 65 laps, but finished 3rd after a last-lap pass by [[Brad Keselowski]] and [[Kevin Harvick]].

The following week at Martinsville, Busch led early in the race but dropped to the back of the field midway through. He was briefly penalized for changing lanes before a restart, but 20 laps later, officials rescinded the penalty. Busch then dominated at Richmond, where he battled [[Jamie McMurray]] for the win in the final 100 laps. Busch pulled away to claim his first victory of the season.

Busch's second win of the season came in a rain-shortened race at Michigan.<ref>{{cite web |date=June 14, 2015 |title=Kurt Busch wins on rainy day at Michigan |url=http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2015/6/14/michigan-race-recap-quicken-loans-400-2015.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150615131854/http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2015/6/14/michigan-race-recap-quicken-loans-400-2015.html |archive-date=June 15, 2015 |access-date=June 14, 2015 |work=USA Today}}</ref> At Sonoma, he dominated early but finished 2nd to his younger brother Kyle, marking their first-ever 1-2 finish in NASCAR Sprint Cup history. Despite missing the first three races of the season, Busch finished 8th in the 2015 championship standings, with 21 Top 10 finishes and three poles.

===== 2016 =====
[[File:Kurt_Busch_Pocono_Win.jpg|thumb|Busch celebrating after winning the [[2016 Axalta "We Paint Winners" 400]]]]
Busch began the 2016 season with a 10th-place finish in the [[2016 Daytona 500|Daytona 500]] and two consecutive pole wins at Atlanta and Las Vegas. However, he received the pole at Atlanta due to his brother [[Kyle Busch|Kyle Busch's]] time being disqualified after failing post-qualifying inspection. His only win of the season came at Pocono, coincidentally when his crew chief Gibson was suspended. Busch had a consistent season, setting a record for the most consecutive lead-lap finishes to start the year. His streak ended with his first DNF at Bristol after contact with [[Joey Logano]]. He finished 7th in the championship standings.

===== 2017: Daytona 500 Win =====
[[File:Kurt_Busch_Daytona_2017.jpg|thumb|Busch's [[2017 Daytona 500]] race-winning car]]
Stewart-Haas Racing switched to Ford for the 2017 season, a manufacturer that hadn't won a Cup championship since Busch's 2004 title with Roush.<ref>{{cite news |last=Diaz |first=George |date=March 1, 2016 |title=Stewart-Haas switch to Ford is bold NASCAR power play |url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/nascar/os-nascar-ford-george-diaz-0302-20160301-column.html |access-date=February 28, 2017 |newspaper=[[Orlando Sentinel]]}}</ref> Busch's season started with a crash in the [[2017 Advance Auto Parts Clash|Advance Auto Parts Clash]] after [[Jimmie Johnson]] spun.<ref>{{cite web |last=Jensen |first=Tom |date=February 19, 2017 |title=Kurt Busch crashes out early in Advance Auto Parts Clash |url=http://www.foxsports.com/nascar/story/kurt-busch-crashes-out-early-in-advance-auto-parts-clash-021917 |access-date=February 28, 2017 |work=[[Fox Sports (United States)|Fox Sports]]}}</ref> A week later, Busch won the [[2017 Daytona 500|Daytona 500]], passing [[Kyle Larson]] on the final lap.<ref>{{cite web |last=Pistone |first=Pete |author-link=Pete Pistone |date=February 26, 2017 |title=Kurt Busch Wins Daytona 500 |url=http://www.mrn.com/Race-Series/NASCAR-Sprint-Cup/News/Articles/2017/02/Kurt-Busch-Wins-Daytona-500.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227160228/http://www.mrn.com/Race-Series/NASCAR-Sprint-Cup/News/Articles/2017/02/Kurt-Busch-Wins-Daytona-500.aspx |archive-date=February 27, 2017 |access-date=February 26, 2017 |website=MRN.com |publisher=[[Motor Racing Network]] |location=Daytona Beach, Florida}}</ref> However, Busch struggled for the rest of the year, finishing 14th in the standings with six Top-5s, 14 Top-10s, and seven DNFs.

===== 2018: Final season at Stewart-Haas =====
[[File:Kurt_Busch_Darlington_2018.jpg|right|thumb|Kurt competing in the [[2018 Bojangles' Southern 500|2018 Southern 500]] throwback race at [[Darlington Raceway|Darlington]], a race he would finish in 6th.]]
In the summer of 2017, Busch and Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) struggled to finalize a contract renewal, with SHR not picking up his option. Despite this, Busch and SHR agreed to a one-year deal for 2018. He started the season strong with pole positions at Texas, Michigan, and New Hampshire. Busch won his first race in 58 races at [[2018 Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race|Bristol night race]], securing a spot in the 2018 Playoffs. He advanced to the Round of 8 before being eliminated at Phoenix after a late crash with [[Denny Hamlin]] and [[Chase Elliott]]. Busch finished the season 7th in points. On December 2, 2018, he announced he would not return to SHR in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |date=December 2, 2018 |title=Kurt Busch will not return to Stewart-Haas Racing in 2019 |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2018/12/02/kurt-busch-will-not-return-to-stewart-haas-racing-in-2019/ |access-date=December 3, 2018 |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.}}</ref>

==== Chip Ganassi Racing ====

===== 2019 =====
[[File:Kurt_Busch_1_Sonoma_2019.jpg|left|thumb|Busch's No. 1 at [[Sonoma Raceway]] in 2019]]
On December 4, 2018, it was confirmed that Busch and his sponsor, [[Monster Energy]], would join [[NASCAR operations of Chip Ganassi Racing|Chip Ganassi Racing]], driving the No. 1 [[Chevrolet Camaro ZL1]] for the 2019 season. Busch signed a one-year deal, leading many to believe that this would be his final full-time season in NASCAR.<ref name="CGR 20192">{{cite news |date=December 4, 2018 |title=Kurt Busch and sponsor move to Chip Ganassi Racing for 2019 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/auto-racing/kurt-busch-and-sponsor-move-to-chip-ganassi-racing-for-2019/2018/12/04/22143852-f7e9-11e8-8642-c9718a256cbd_story.html?noredirect=on |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205003643/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/auto-racing/kurt-busch-and-sponsor-move-to-chip-ganassi-racing-for-2019/2018/12/04/22143852-f7e9-11e8-8642-c9718a256cbd_story.html?noredirect=on |archive-date=December 5, 2018 |access-date=December 5, 2018 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref>

At the [[2019 Pennzoil 400|Pennzoil 400]], Busch’s No. 1 car was sponsored by Star Nursery, with a livery inspired by his first NASCAR win in the AutoZone Elite Division.<ref name="Las Vegas Sponsorship2">{{cite web |date=February 27, 2019 |title=Star Nursery to Sponsor Kurt Busch at Las Vegas Motor Speedway |url=https://www.mrn.com/2019/02/27/star-nursery-sponsor-kurt-busch-las-vegas/ |access-date=March 10, 2019 |publisher=[[Motor Racing Network]]}}</ref> He finished 2nd to his brother Kyle at the [[2019 Food City 500]], marking their second 1–2 finish. Busch secured his first win with Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) at [[2019 Quaker State 400|Kentucky]], defeating Kyle on the final restart.<ref>{{cite web |last=Waack |first=Terrin |date=July 13, 2019 |title=Kurt Busch beats out younger brother in overtime at Kentucky |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2019/07/13/kurt-busch-beats-kyle-overtime-kentucky |access-date=July 14, 2019 |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.}}</ref> This was the third 1–2 finish for the Busch brothers, but the first time Kurt won. Despite making the playoffs, Kurt was eliminated in the Round of 16 after a 20th-place finish at the [[2019 Bank of America Roval 400|Charlotte Roval]].<ref>{{cite web |date=September 29, 2019 |title=NASCAR Playoffs: Round of 12 set after Charlotte Roval |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2019/09/29/nascar-playoffs-charlotte-roval-eliminations-round-of-12/ |access-date=September 30, 2019 |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.}}</ref> On November 2, 2019, CGR confirmed Kurt would stay with the No. 1 team for at least two more years.<ref>{{cite web |last=Spencer |first=Reid |date=November 2, 2019 |title=Chip Ganassi Racing announces Kurt Busch will return to No. 1 in 2020 |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2019/11/02/chip-ganassi-racing-announces-kurt-busch-will-return-to-no-1-in-2020/ |access-date=November 3, 2019 |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.}}</ref>

===== 2020 =====
Busch made the 2020 playoffs without a victory, relying on consistency with four Top 5 finishes and 14 Top 10 finishes. He secured his first win of the season, and 32nd career victory, at [[2020 South Point 400|Las Vegas]], which earned him a spot in the Round of 8.<ref>{{cite web |date=September 27, 2020 |title=Sin City sizzler: Kurt Busch wins Round of 12 opener at Las Vegas in overtime |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2020/09/27/results-cup-series-playoffs-las-vegas-motor-speedway-race-recap/ |access-date=September 28, 2020 |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.}}</ref>

===== 2021 =====
[[File:Kurt_busch_(51307023887)_(cropped).jpg|thumb|Busch's race-winning car during the [[2021 Quaker State 400]]]]
Busch started 2021 with one Top 5 and two Top 10 finishes in the first three races, but his results declined until a 6th-place finish at Sonoma in race 16, sparking a streak of three consecutive Top 8 finishes. On June 30, [[Justin Marks]], co-founder of [[Trackhouse Racing]], announced he had acquired Chip Ganassi Racing's NASCAR operations, making Busch a free agent after the season. On July 11, Kurt won the [[2021 Quaker State 400|Quaker State 400]] at [[Atlanta Motor Speedway|Atlanta]], holding off his brother Kyle, securing a playoff spot and their final 1-2 finish together.<ref>{{cite web |date=September 18, 2021 |title=Kyle Larson wins wild NASCAR Cup elimination race at Bristol |url=https://www.jayski.com/2021/09/18/kyle-larson-wins-wild-nascar-cup-elimination-race-at-bristol/ |access-date=September 19, 2021 |website=[[Jayski's Silly Season Site]] |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.}}</ref> Busch was eliminated in the Round of 16 at Bristol and finished the season 11th in points.<ref name="2021 Cup2" />

==== 23XI Racing ====
[[File:Kurt_Busch_45_Sonoma_2022.jpg|thumb|Busch’s No. 45 at [[Sonoma Raceway]] in 2022]]

===== 2022: Last full-time season =====
On August 27, 2021, it was announced that Busch would drive the No. 45 Toyota Camry for [[23XI Racing]] in 2022. He kicked off the season with a 19th-place finish in the Daytona 500. After promising Top 5 results at Phoenix and Atlanta, Busch faced a series of setbacks, including poor finishes at COTA, Richmond, Bristol Dirt, Dover, and Darlington. However, he bounced back with a victory at [[2022 AdventHealth 400|Kansas]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Spencer |first=Reid |date=May 15, 2022 |title=Kurt Busch earns first win of 2022 with 23XI Racing at Kansas Speedway |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2022/05/15/kurt-busch-earns-first-win-of-2022-with-23xi-racing-at-kansas-speedway/ |access-date=May 16, 2022 |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC}}</ref>

====== Accident at Pocono ======
[[File:Kurt_Busch_Retirement.jpg|right|thumb|Kurt announcing his retirement from full-time competition in August 2023.]]
At the [[2022 M&M's Fan Appreciation 400|Pocono race]], Busch was not cleared medically after a qualifying crash and missed the last five races of the regular season. [[Ty Gibbs]] substituted for him during recovery from concussion symptoms.<ref>{{cite news |date=July 27, 2022 |title=Kurt Busch to miss Indy with concussion-like symptoms |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/auto-racing/kurt-busch-to-miss-indy-with-concussion-like-symptoms/2022/07/27/25f01876-0df0-11ed-88e8-c58dc3dbaee2_story.html |access-date=July 28, 2022 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=August 3, 2022 |title=Kurt Busch not cleared to race at Michigan |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2022/08/03/kurt-busch-not-cleared-to-race-at-michigan/ |access-date=August 5, 2022 |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=August 10, 2022 |title=Kurt Busch to miss fourth straight race with concussion symptoms |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2022/08/10/kurt-busch-to-miss-fourth-straight-race-with-concussion-symptoms/ |access-date=August 11, 2022 |website=NASCAR}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=August 18, 2022 |title=Kurt Busch announces he will miss races at Watkins Glen, Daytona |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2022/08/18/kurt-busch-announces-he-will-miss-races-at-watkins-glen-daytona/ |access-date=August 19, 2022 |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.}}</ref> On August 25, 2022, Busch withdrew his playoff waiver request, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2012.<ref>{{cite web |date=August 25, 2022 |title=Kurt Busch to miss start of playoffs; 23XI Racing withdraws request for waiver |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2022/08/25/kurt-busch-to-miss-start-of-playoffs-23xi-racing-withdraws-request-for-waiver/ |access-date=August 25, 2022 |website=NASCAR}}</ref> On October 16, 2022, he announced he would step away from full-time racing in 2023, with the option for part-time participation.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 15, 2022 |title=Kurt Busch out for rest of season, will not compete full-time in 2023 |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2022/10/15/kurt-busch-out-for-rest-of-season-will-not-compete-full-time-in-2023/ |access-date=October 16, 2022 |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.}}</ref> However, on August 26, 2023, Busch confirmed his retirement from full-time NASCAR Cup Series competition.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Albert |first=Zach |date=August 26, 2023 |title=Kurt Busch announces retirement, ending career with 34 Cup Series victories |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2023/08/26/kurt-busch-announces-retirement-ending-career-with-34-cup-series-victories/ |access-date=August 26, 2023 |website=NASCAR.com}}</ref>

=== NHRA ===
Busch began training in January 2011 under veteran [[National Hot Rod Association|NHRA]] [[Pro stock|Pro Stock]] driver Allen Johnson and earned his NHRA Pro Stock competition license. He made his [[drag racing]] debut on March 10, 2011, at the 42nd annual Tire Kingdom Gatornationals in [[Gainesville Raceway|Gainesville]]. Busch qualified for the Pro Stock field on March 12 and competed in his first Elimination-round on March 13, 2011, where he narrowly lost to [[Erica Enders]] by 0.004 seconds. He became only the fourth driver to transition from [[NASCAR]] to NHRA, joining [[Tony Stewart]], [[Richard Petty]], and [[John Andretti]].<ref>{{cite news |author=Stan Creekmore |date=January 7, 2011 |title=BUSCH WORKING WITH ALLEN JOHNSON FOR POTENTIAL GATORS DEBUT |url=http://www.competitionplus.com/drag-racing/news/16443-busch-working-with-allen-johnson-for-potential-gators-debut |access-date=January 10, 2011}}</ref>

=== Open-wheel racing ===
In 2003, during [[Championship Auto Racing Teams|CART's]] pre-season test at [[Sebring International Raceway]], Busch tested a Champ Car for three-time CART champion [[Bobby Rahal]]. At the time, Busch's manufacturer in Winston Cup, Ford, was CART's exclusive engine supplier. The test was more for fun than evaluation. Busch drove a car originally fielded for [[Michel Jourdain Jr.]] (who later competed in NASCAR) and enjoyed the experience, though he was several seconds off the pace set by [[Oriol Servià]].<ref name="ESPN2">{{Cite web |title=Kurt Busch ready to moonlight? |url=https://www.espn.com//www.espn.com/racing/blog/_/name/oreovicz_john/id/9240730 |access-date=2024-04-27 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref>

In 2013, it was announced that Busch would test an IndyCar for [[Andretti Autosport]], the team owned by [[1999 CART season|1991 CART champion]] [[Michael Andretti]], at the [[Indianapolis Motor Speedway]]. Andretti's team, the defending champions, used Chevrolet engines, the same as Busch’s Furniture Row Racing team in the Sprint Cup Series. Busch did not comment on whether he was preparing to race in the [[Indianapolis 500]].

However, in January 2014, he expressed a strong interest in competing in the iconic race.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-01-17 |title=Kurt Busch mulls potential Indy 500 run |url=https://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/cup/story/_/id/10309795/kurt-busch-mulling-potential-indy-500-run |access-date=2024-04-27 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> On March 4, 2014, it was announced that Kurt Busch would attempt to qualify for the [[2014 Indianapolis 500]], driving a fifth car for [[Andretti Autosport]]. He also planned to race in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day, performing the rare feat of [[Double Duty|double duty]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-01-17 |title=Kurt Busch mulls potential Indy 500 run |url=https://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/cup/story/_/id/10309795/kurt-busch-mulling-potential-indy-500-run |access-date=2024-04-27 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> Busch started 12th in the Indy 500. After a cautious start, he became more competitive as the race progressed and finished sixth, earning praise from fellow NASCAR drivers. However, his attempt to complete the full 1,100 miles across both races ended 191 miles short when his engine blew on lap 273 at Charlotte.

=== Other racing ===
On October 21, 2014, Busch announced that he would compete in the [[2014 Race of Champions]] for Team USA, alongside IndyCar's [[Ryan Hunter-Reay]].<ref>{{cite news |date=October 21, 2014 |title=Indy 500 winner Hunter-Reay heads to ROC |url=http://www.raceofchampions.com/News/general-news/nascar-champion-kurt-busch-joins-roc-2014-field.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024101216/http://www.raceofchampions.com/News/general-news/nascar-champion-kurt-busch-joins-roc-2014-field.aspx |archive-date=October 24, 2014 |access-date=October 21, 2014 |publisher=raceofchampions.com}}</ref> He also participated in the [[2017 Race of Champions]], joining his brother [[Kyle Busch]] for Team USA NASCAR. In the Nations' Cup final, they were defeated by Team Germany's [[Sebastian Vettel]].<ref>{{cite news |date=August 23, 2016 |title=Miami becomes first American city to host the Race Of Champions |url=http://www.raceofchampions.com/news/latest-news/miami-becomes-first-american-city-to-host-the-race-of-champions/ |access-date=August 23, 2016 |work=[[Race of Champions]]}}</ref>

On 14 January 2025, Busch announced he had been medically cleared to return to racing and would compete in the [[2025 Race of Champions]], his first race since his 2022 concussion.<ref name="2025RoC">{{cite web |last1=Srigley |first1=Joseph |title=Kurt Busch Medically Cleared to Represent Team USA in Race of Champions |url=https://www.si.com/onsi/racing-america/news/kurt-busch-medically-cleared-to-represent-team-usa-in-race-of-champions-01jhh8ayxt5e |website=Racing America On SI |access-date=14 January 2025 |date=14 January 2025}}</ref>