After the rain-delayed Nationwide race on Monday in Texas won by Kyle Busch, word started spreading that the Vegas native would go for a second Nationwide Series championship.
In the offseason, Busch announced he would not run the full season due to the formation of his own team, Kyle Busch Motorsports, and wanting to concentrate on the Chase for the Cup championship. However, he says he is “having fun” in the NNS and now with a 20 point lead over Penske driver Brad Keselowski, Busch and Joe Gibbs racing may be having second thoughts.
The crew is also pumped up coming off of the win and leading the points.
So what is the deal breaker?
The non-companion races, specifically when the Cup series is in California while the Nationwide series is in Wisconsin. The back and forth across the country takes a toll on the driver as well as missing quality time in the Cup car. Wanting to focus on the Cup more than Nationwide is a big reason Busch chose not to run the full schedule to begin with.
His brother, meanwhile, has had some definite change, not of his choice.
Shell/Pennzoil, current sponsor of Kevin Harvick's No. 29 machine at Richard Childress Racing, announced it would be leaving the team and heading over to Penske Racing to sponsor Kurt Busch beginning in the 2011 season, replacing his current and longtime sponsor, Miller Lite. With this move, Busch will also lose his number, changing from the famous Blue Deuce (No. 2) to 22.
The Miller Lite sponsor will move over to Brad Keselowski who will take over the big shoes of the No. 2 legacy, replacing his current number 12 and Verizon Wireless sponsor.
Because of the Shell – Mobil conflict, Mobil will leave Penske (but remain the Official Motor Oil of NASCAR), leaving teammate Sam Hornish Jr. without a sponsor for the moment. But the Penske camp guarantees there will be a place for him and they will find a sponsor.
Busch's contract was to end at the end of this year, but negotiations have started to extend his time with the team.
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