Jack Roush says his team will continue to field five drivers. Credit: Autostock

Roush shocked by Busch's move to Penske

Owner has no intentions of letting defending champ out of contract

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- At 8 a.m. last Tuesday, Kurt Busch met with team owner Jack Roush and told him that he would not be seeking a contract extension. He also asked Roush personally to release him from his contract.

Busch's words stung Roush, who had no idea his driver had been talking to other teams.

	Kurt Busch had a tough conversation with Jack Roush on Tuesday. Credit: Autostock
	Inside the Numbers Kurt Busch's Nextel Cup stats Category Stat Starts 171 Wins 13 Top-5s 41 Top-10s 72 Poles 3 Avg. Start 18.4 Avg. Finish 17.5 KURT BUSCH •   Driver Page •   2005 Stats •   Gillette Weekly Challenge •   Superstore: Kurt Busch gear

"I couldn't have been more surprised," Roush said Friday at Watkins Glen.

According to Roush, Busch met with him on Tuesday and explained that he had been given a "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity - one that he simply couldn't turn down.

"He said, 'I'd like to be released for 2006 so I can start next year,'" Roush said. "I said, 'That is a problem. You've got a contract with me and you've made commitments to me and I've made commitments to other people I would expect you to keep your contract to me.'"

Busch, 27, has never driven for anyone except Roush Racing, and if Roush has his say, that will be the case in 2006 too. Busch is in the second year of a three-year deal.

Roush stopped short of saying unequivocally that his team wouldn't let Busch go, but his opinion leaves little debate.

"I don't have any intentions of letting Kurt go. I am speaking for Jack Roush here," Roush said. "For Roush Racing, that is a very complex question, and the ultimate decision will be made with many factors beyond my interest or my daily involvement."

In any event, Roush will have to find a new driver for the No. 97 Ford in 2007. With Busch, Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle, Roush simply moved them through NASCAR's lower tiers, but Roush's pool of drivers is thin.

"You can't replace Kurt Busch in a year. That is not possible," Roush said. "We have got drivers in the pipelines that are working their way up."

Roush has veteran Ricky Craven and rookie Todd Kluever in the Craftsman Truck Series, but neither driver has won a race this year. Roush promoted Biffle, Edwards and Busch only after they showed they could win multiple times in the Craftsman Truck Series.

Roush let Jeff Burton leave his team early and go to Richard Childress Racing a year ago but situation was different. Burton's team didn't have a sponsor at the time, and Edwards was ready to replace Burton in the No. 99 Ford.

Whatever happens, Roush says he will continue to field five Nextel Cup cars.

"I've built my program around five race cars and five drivers," Roush said.