Kurt Busch 'confident that everything will come together' on 2018 contract
Kurt Busch doesn’t seem too concerned about his contract status after the 2017 season.
Stewart-Haas Racing holds an option on Busch’s contract for 2018 and the Daytona 500 winner said he was “confident” things would work out.
“For me, the team has the option on my contract and they just have to notify me by a certain date if they are going to pick that option up,” Busch said. “It’s as easy as that. I feel that however the timing works out I feel very confident that everything will come together.”
Since coming to Stewart-Haas Racing before the 2014 season, Busch has been primarily sponsored by team co-owner Gene Haas’ CNC company. Monster Energy joined as half-primary sponsor of Busch’s car in 2016. The company, as you likely know, became the title sponsor of the Cup Series in 2017.
Could that involvement as the main sponsor of NASCAR’s top series affect Busch’s sponsorship Monster is paying a reported $20 million a year to sponsor the Cup Series — far below what Sprint was paying to sponsor the series.
When asked if he had worries about Monster’s commitment to his car next season, Busch said he didn’t have any.
“I don’t have any worries,” Busch said. “I know that I delivered for the team. Our performance level isn’t one that should be in question. Winning the Daytona 500 is special, but performing week in and week out, the deliverables that I bring sponsorship-wise, that comes into play. I know that they’re working with NASCAR to try to sort out their issues with NASCAR and the entitlement sponsor.
“So there’s a lot of moving parts. But I don’t feel any fear whatsoever. I actually feel really confident on the sponsorship that I bring. Ford Performance’s involvement with Stewart-Haas and how I blended in with this team, I feel great.”
Busch is one of two drivers at SHR who could be in contract flux as the season ends. Twelve days after Sports Business Journal reported that Danica Patrick and SHR were working to end Patrick’s contract with the team at the end of 2017 (a year ahead of schedule), the Associated Press reported Patrick’s contract was set to expire at the end of the year.
– – – – – – –
Nick Bromberg is the editor of Dr. Saturday and From the Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
