Kyle Busch signs with Hendrick

Elwood · February 5, 2003

February 4, 2003

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Driver Kyle Busch signed a contract with Hendrick Motorsports on Tuesday -- 24 hours after deciding not to join his older brother at Roush Racing.

Busch will race in at least seven NASCAR Busch series events for Hendrick this season -- after he turns 18 on May 2 -- and will compete full time in 2004.

Originally, he planned to sign with Roush Racing in May and compete in NASCAR's truck series. Roush fields cars for 24-year-old Kurt Busch, and had Kyle under contract until it was voided in 2001 when NASCAR passed an age requirement of 18 for its top three series.

``I feel lucky to have this opportunity with an organization like Hendrick Motorsports,'' said Busch, who graduated with honors from his Las Vegas high school a year early so he could focus on racing.

``We'll ease into it this year with some select races and go full steam next season. As a young driver, it's just a great environment for me to develop.''

Hendrick fields cars for Winston Cup champions Jeff Gordon and Terry Labonte, Jimmie Johnson and Joe Nemechek.

Kyle Busch, who also will run in select ARCA races this season, will team with 19-year-old Brian Vickers in Hendrick cars in the Busch series, making them the youngest tandem in NASCAR.

As a 16-year-old, Kyle Busch earned two top-10 finishes in six truck races for Roush before NASCAR mandated age restrictions in its top three circuits. In 2002, he finished eighth in American Speed Association championship points as a rookie in a car Roush helped fund.

``Kyle is one of the best young racers I've ever been around, and it's certainly exciting to have him on board,'' car owner Rick Hendrick said. ``To say he has a bright future would be an understatement.''