Driver of the #97 Rubbermaid
Ford Taurus

At the close of the 2002 season, Kurt Busch may have been the only driver sad to see the season come to an end. He literally set the NASCAR world on fire by winning three of the last five events on the Winston Cup schedule, including back-to-back wins at Martinsville and Atlanta. After winning his first Winston Cup event in April at Bristol Motor Speedway, Kurt posted strong finishes at Talladega (3rd), and three 2nd place finishes at California, Pocono and New Hampshire. Were it not for a string of three poor finishes in the month of August, Busch may very well have contended for the 2002 title. Rather than dwell on disappointment, this setback put the team on a mission to finish the year strong. Kurt also ended the year by winning the final Bud Pole Award of the season at Homestead, making him eligible for the 2003 Bud Shootout in Daytona.

At age 15, Kurt Busch found immediate success in the Dwarf Car Series. After winning the 1994 Rookie of the Year title in his home state of Nevada, Busch followed it up with a Championship one year later. By 1996, he was Hobby Stock Champion at Las Vegas Speedway Park and attracting the attention of owners in the regional NASCAR touring series. By 1998, he had arrived, winning the Rookie of the Year Title in the NASCAR Southwest Touring Series. Matching his Dwarf car success, he won the Southwest Touring Title one-year later in 1999. In that same year, he won the Roush "Gong Show" audition, earning an opportunity to drive in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. In the year 2000, Kurt's first year of Craftsman Trucks, he won four events and finished 2nd in the final point standings. Based on Kurt's amazing ability to adapt to new cars, team owner Jack Roush decided to spring Kurt directly into the Winston Cup Series, foregoing a stop in the Busch Grand National ranks. At first, many questioned this logic-but nobody doubts the decision anymore. After finishing runner-up in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year title and finishing 27th in the point standings, Roush made the call to pair Kurt Busch with veteran crew chief Jimmy Fennig, whose storied NASCAR career was stocked with victories for Mark Martin. The "crew swap" lit up both teams, as they finished 2nd and 3rd in the 2002 final Winston Cup point standings.

Kurt credits his start in racing to his father, Tom, who introduced him to the Dwarf car series. At age 24, Kurt is still single. Kurt has one brother, Kyle Busch, who some say has as much natural talent as his older brother. If that's the case, the racing world better watch out for the Busch Brothers in the future. In 2003, Kurt Busch returns to the No. 97 Rubbermaid Ford Taurus and his brother is slated to take over driving duties for Hendrick motorsports in the Busch Series later this year.

Career Highlights

2002 -- Finished 3rd in the 2002 Winston Cup point standings, earning a career high $3,635,192 in winnings. Broke through for his first Winston Cup win on March 24, 2002 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Led 933 laps in 21 different events in 2002. Finished the year with 4 victories (Bristol, Martinsville, Atlanta and Homestead), 12 top-fives and 21 top-tens. Won the Bud Pole Award at the season-ending race at Homestead-Miami Speedway in preparation for the Ford 400, earning a spot in the 2003 Bud Shootout at Daytona International Speedway. It was his second career pole position. Finished runner-up in three separate events in 2002 - California (Fontana), Pocono and New Hampshire. Won two straight races in October-Martinsville and Atlanta. Was running at the finish in all but four races in 2002, suffering only four DNF's. Finished in the top-five in 3 of the 4 Superspeedway events (Daytona and Talladega Superspeedways). Started on the outside pole at Fontana (California Speedway),Sears Point(Infineon Raceway),and Chicagoland Speedway. Finished 3rd in the 2002 Union 76 World Pit Crew Championships at North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham, breaking the old world record time set in 2001. Roush Racing entries finished 1-2-3 in the event. Finished 4th in the Winston All-Star race at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

2001 -- First career Winston Cup Bud Pole (Darlington),
Six top 10s

2000 — Four wins, four poles and five runner-up finishes in 24 races on the Craftsman Truck Series. Captured Rookie-of-the-Year honors and second place in the Craftsman Truck Series championship. Competed in seven of the last eight Winston Cup events with a highest finish of 13th place at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

1999 — Signed multi-year contract to drive for Roush Racing beginning in 2000 as a result of the Roush “Gong Show” talent search. Won the Southwest Series championship recording six wins that included a four-in-a-row winning streak. Top-10 finish in his first Winston West race (eighth place, Las Vegas Motor Speedway).

1998 — Southwest Series Rookie of the Year. Finished third in his first ever road-course race (Sears Point Raceway). Three top fives and seven top 10s in 17 starts on the Southwest Series. Fifteen wins in 18 starts in Legends Cars and Grand American Modified.

1997 — Started five races in first year on the Southwest Series. Gained additional experience driving Late Models, American Race Trucks, Legend Cars and Dwarf Cars.

1996 — NASCAR Hobby Stock champion at Las Vegas Speedway Park. Legend Cars National Rookie of the Year and Legend Cars Western States champion.

1995 — Nevada State Dwarf Car champion (26 starts) and Las Vegas Motor Speedway points champion.

1994 — Nevada State Dwarf Car Rookie of the Year (21 starts) and Las Vegas Motor Speedway points champion.