Kurt Busch heads to Stewart-Haas

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series organization Stewart-Haas Racing has scheduled a press conference for Tuesday afternoon, presumably to announce that the organization is expanding to four teams, adding an entry for driver Kurt Busch. The team already fields the No. 14 Chevrolet for team owner Tony Stewart, the No. 10 Chevrolet for Danica Patrick, and a No. 39 Chevrolet currently driven by Ryan Newman that will be renumbered 4 next year for Kevin Harvick. Newman is leaving the team at the end of the season.

Word leaked out a little over a week ago that Stewart-Haas had offered Busch a formal offer of a full-time ride for 2014. Neither Stewart-Haas Racing nor Kurt Busch denied those reports.

Shortly following Monday's announcement of the SHR press conference scheduled for Tuesday, USA Today posted an article on its website stating that Busch confirmed via text that he signed a multi-year deal with Stewart-Haas Racing.

"I put ink on the deal. This is the kind of situation every driver wants to be in, and I'm grateful to Gene Haas and Haas Automation for providing me this opportunity," Busch's text said, according to USA Today.

Gene Haas is half owner of Stewart-Haas racing and is also the Haas in Haas Automation. The earlier rumors that had SHR extending a deal to Busch also had Haas Automation sponsoring the fourth Stewart-Haas entry to be driven by Busch.

On Monday, Furniture Row Racing, for which Kurt Busch drive a No. 78 Chevrolet this season, issued a statement confirming that Busch did not accept a contract extension with FRR.

"It was always our intention to extend Kurt's contract with Furniture Row Racing," Furniture Row Racing General Manager Joe Garone said. "We made him an offer last week to continue as the driver of the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet in 2014 and beyond. Though he did not accept our offer, we respect his decision and wish him future success. His driving skill and being a dedicated team player will always be appreciated at Furniture Row Racing. But for right now, the main focus for Kurt and the team is to qualify for the Chase and contend for the 2013 Sprint Cup Series championship."