After winning his first race of the 2020 season Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Kurt Busch kept joking about becoming “that old guy” in racing. And he later floated the idea of retiring from NASCAR.
After all, at 42 years old, Busch is in his 20th full-time NASCAR Cup Series season, and he is one of the oldest drivers on the track. Plus, it didn’t help that his nephew, Kyle Busch’s 5-year-old son, Brexton, won his first race the night before Kurt took Sunday’s checkered flag in the first of three Cup Series playoff races in the Round of 12.
“I honestly had a feeling on the plane ride out here [Sunday], with his win, it was like, you know, my job is almost done here,” Kurt Busch told reporters on a Zoom call after his Vegas win.
“I’m starting to become that old guy. Got to find the rocking chair because Brexton is taking over. But not so fast. It’s great to be back in Victory Lane.”
But calling it a career might not be too far off in Busch’s future. In an interview Tuesday with CBS Sports’ Matt Mayer, he said there’s a “50-50” chance the 2021 season will be his last in NASCAR.
Kurt Busch plans to race full-time next season, but says there's a 50/50 chance 2021 will be his last year in NASCAR. pic.twitter.com/GJ5S4F66f4
— Matt Mayer (@MatthewMayerCBS) September 29, 2020
Busch said:
“I’ve been at this game a long time. Been out there 21 years, and my wife is a great supporter of mine and she loves the racing. But it’s been a bunch of years out on the road and out on the circuit. And we’ll see what 2022 brings us when we get there.”
Busch and Chip Ganassi Racing agreed to a multiyear contract extension in 2019, and it’s rumored to be through the 2021 season.
In 20 seasons, Busch was the 2004 Cup Series champion, and he has 32 wins, including the 2017 Daytona 500 and the 2010 Coca-Cola 600. His checkered flag Sunday was his first at his “home” Las Vegas track moved him into a tie with Dale Jarrett for 26th on the all-time wins list.
Sunday’s win also guaranteed Busch will advance out of the playoffs’ Round of 12 to the Round of 8 and remain eligible for the championship.
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