Roush won’t let Busch out of contract early

UPDATE Amid reports that Roush Racing President Jack Roush will not let Nextel Cup driver Kurt Busch out of the final year of his contract in ’06, Roush said today, “We will consider releasing him, but it’s not presumed that we will. AP

08/12/05 Roush Racing owner Jack Roush said Friday reigning Nextel Cup champion Kurt Busch "had the obligation and I have the expectation" that Busch will remain with the No. 97 Ford in the 2006 season. Busch, 27, announced Tuesday he had signed with Penske Racing South to drive its No. 2 Dodges beginning in the 2007 season, but he also asked Roush to be released from his 2006 obligations.

At the time, Roush said it would mull over the decision. "Kurt certainly has every right, and I celebrate the right that he has to look on the horizon at opportunities better than us, but we also keep our commitments, and that's what I expect," Roush said.

"Kurt didn't say what motivated his decision, other than it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He didn't say what the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was. He didn't say it was money. He didn't say otherwise, and I didn't ask him."