Furniture Row Racing has announced that controversial former Sprint Cup Series champion Kurt Busch will drive its single-car Chevrolet entry next season.
The 24-time Sprint Cup Series race winner has been driving for James Finch’s underfunded Pheonix Racing squad this year after being dropped by long-time employer Penske Racing for abusing a television reporter at the final round of the 2011 season.
The news spells the end of Regan Smith’s road with the Furniture Row Racing. Smith took the team’s first ever victory last year at Darlington but has largely struggled in 2012, sitting 23rd in the standings after 28 of 36 races.
“Though we have made strides as a resourceful single-car Sprint Cup team, we are not where we want to be, which led us to the difficult decision of making a driver change as we move forward,” said Furniture Row Racing’s general manager Joe Garone.
“Kurt’s exceptional driving talent has the capacity to take a team to another level. We look forward to having Kurt join our Denver-based organization and feel his racing experience will play an important role as we plan ahead to 2013.”
Busch added: “Furniture Row Racing has the commitment, talent and resources to compete at a high level in the Sprint Cup Series. I have watched with admiration on how this team has grown over the years and that is why I am excited about the opportunity as I eagerly look forward to a new chapter in my racing career.”
Furniture Row Racing enjoys a technical partnership with Richard Childress Racing, and with its base in Denver, Colorado, is the only full-time Sprint Cup Series team headquartered outside of North Carolina.
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