Kurt Busch to Return to Stewart Haas Racing in 2018

Kurt Busch heads out for practice at Pocono in July
(Photo-Christian Koelle/CCK Photography)

Kurt Busch will return to Stewart Haas Racing in 2018, sources reported on Sunday Night/Monday Morning.

Busch, who has been with the organization since 2014, has tallied five victories including the 2017 Daytona 500 while piloting the No. 41.

A report noted that he signed a one year contract with the team at the end of 2018. That could raise questions about his career moving forward being as Cole Custer could move from the XFINITY Series to Cup in 2019.

Busch has been competing in the Cup Series since 2000, one of the few drivers who has raced in the Winston, Nextel, Sprint, and Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Busch won the premier series championship in 2004 with Roush Racing and has tallied a total of 29 career victories.

Aric Almirola will replace Danica Patrick in the No. 10 next season with sponsorship from Smithfield Foods. As noted above Kurt Busch will return. Both Clint Bowyer and Kevin Harvick will also return to the team in 2018 and will look to take momentum from a strong 2017. As a whole, the organization earned three victories in 2017 (Harvick with two and Busch with one). Harvick was one of the four in the championship four at Homestead, he ended the season third in Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series points. (Koelle,2017)