Kurt Busch, reflecting on his long career, expressed his belief that his time at Stewart-Haas Racing, particularly alongside Tony Stewart, offered his best Tony Stewart NASCAR Cup championship chance after his 2004 title with Roush Racing. Busch spoke candidly about the near misses, the strong team dynamic, and how those years should have brought greater success.
Kurt Busch’s Early Momentum and Rise to Prominence
Emerging as a standout in the late 1990s, Kurt Busch started by racing Legends cars at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Bullring in 1999. Quickly advancing through the ranks, he made a mark in the Truck Series by winning four races and finishing runner-up in the championship. By 2000, Busch debuted in the Cup Series, setting in motion a career marked by impressive speed and resilience.
His talent shone early, finishing third in the Cup championship in 2002. In 2004, driving for what was then known as Roush Racing, he achieved his ultimate goal by securing the Cup championship. Many observers at the time predicted that Busch would go on to win several more titles, given his combination of aggression and technical prowess.
A Strong Era with Stewart-Haas Racing
Despite not capturing additional championships after 2004, Busch amassed 34 career Cup wins. In the later stages of his career, his move to Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) reignited hopes for another crown. Tony Stewart’s final season as a driver in 2016 saw SHR’s lineup featuring Danica Patrick, Kevin Harvick, and Clint Bowyer alongside Busch. That year, Busch claimed a victory at Pocono, added nine top-five and 21 top-10 finishes, and ended the season seventh overall—SHR’s highest-ranked driver, finishing just ahead of Harvick.
The partnership with crew chief Tony Gibson quickly became noteworthy. Between 2015 and 2017, their collaboration produced consistently strong results and a sense of camaraderie on and off the track. Busch highlighted how much he valued the SHR team when asked by Shannon Spake of the SpakeUp podcast about his favorite stint.
“I was thinking like Tony Gibson and that whole group at Stewart-Haas,”
—Kurt Busch, NASCAR Driver
Busch reflected on the close call with a championship in 2016, noting the strength of the SHR driver lineup and the fun atmosphere created by Tony Gibson’s leadership.
“Harvick was our teammate and with (Clint) Bowyer, Danica and Stewart was still driving. That (2016) was like my second-best chance, I thought, to win a championship and Tony Gibson just made it fun.”
—Kurt Busch, NASCAR Driver
The Emotional Triumph at Daytona and Lasting Regrets
While the 2016 season fell just short of a title, the following year began with a major triumph for Busch and Stewart-Haas Racing. Busch captured his first Daytona 500 victory in 2017, a moment made even more special by sharing it with Tony Gibson, who was visibly moved by the achievement.
“(Gibson) was so good at restrictor plate stuff,”
—Kurt Busch, NASCAR Driver
Busch described Gibson’s emotional reaction to the win, recalling the deep bonds built within the team and the joy of finally conquering the Great American Race.
“I felt like that era should have provided more wins. We were just consistent, we chiseled away and we had fun. We had fun outside the track as well.”
—Kurt Busch, NASCAR Driver
The Legacy of a Competitive Era
Busch’s reflection on his Tony Stewart NASCAR Cup championship chance highlights both fulfillment and unfulfilled potential within one of NASCAR’s most competitive teams. The period with Stewart-Haas Racing yielded significant victories and memorable experiences, but also a lingering sense that more could have been achieved given the talent and resources at hand. As Busch prepares for his potential NASCAR Hall of Fame induction, these memories underscore both the triumphs and the enduring what-ifs of his career, with key figures like Tony Stewart, Tony Gibson, and his SHR teammates playing pivotal roles in his journey.
