Photo Credit: Jonathan Moore/Getty Images North America
Just when you thought Silly Season couldn’t get any sillier.
Daytona 500 winner Kurt Busch may be the latest driver—and former champion—to hit the free agent market. Or, maybe not.
NBC Sports’ Nate Ryan and Motorsport.com’s Lee Spencer are both reporting that sources from Stewart-Haas Racing told them Kurt Busch’s option on his contract will not be picked up for 2018. The option, which expires August 1 at midnight, would officially make the 2004 series champion a free agent in 2018 with few quality Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series rides available for the upcoming season.
While this appears to mean Busch could be out of a ride for 2018, don’t think that so soon.
By Stewart-Haas not picking up the option, they would have the opportunity to renegotiate Busch’s contract altogether, which could allow him to return to the team next season.
If SHR has anything to say about the decision, it seems as if Busch might not be going anywhere anytime soon based on a tweet sent out by the organization.
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
Only time will tell if Busch stays or goes in 2018.
