Kurt Busch Signs Multi-Year Deal to Join Stewart-Haas Racing

Kurt Busch has signed a multi-year contract to compete for Stewart-Haas Racing.

Lee Spencer of FOX Sports first reported the deal on Monday morning via Twitter:

This is a major coup for SHR, as the company is adding the 2004 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion and winner of 24 Cup races to a much-improved 2014 driver lineup.

The announcement comes on the heels of Stewart-Haas’ marquee addition of respected crew chief Rodney Childers, which was revealed last week. Childers is expected to serve as team leader for Kevin Harvick, who will also begin racing for SHR in 2014.

Busch will be abandoning his black No. 78 Chevrolet SS as he leaves Furniture Row Racing and once again changes sponsors.

The 35-year-old has previously driven for Phoenix Racing, Penske Racing and Roush Fenway Racing during a career that began back in 2001.  

Although the driver has had his fair share of controversy in the past, it seems that he is ready to forge ahead into a very promising future.

So long as Tony Stewart returns to full health, Danica Patrick continues her ascendancy to the top and the addition of Harvick pans out, there’s every reason to believe that Busch will be in the Chase for the Sprint Cup next season.

SHR competition director Greg Zipadelli is excited about his company’s prospects in 2014, telling Mike Hembree of USA Today:

"

We are looking to do whatever we can to make Stewart-Haas a better place to race, give our drivers better resources, crew chiefs. Our goal is to give our teams a better product to race every week going into Daytona. With four good drivers next year I think that it gives us that opportunity.

"

With Busch’s contract in the books and the tandem of Childers and Harvick also on board, it seems that Stewart-Haas Racing is in a good place going forward.