Kurt Busch

Birthday: Aug. 4, 1978
Hometown: Las Vegas

YEAR-BY-YEAR NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES RECAP

2007 -- Finished seventh in series points ... Had two victories, at the second Pocono race and the second Michigan race ... Recorded six top-fives and 14 top-10s ... Earned one pole ... Has won at least one race in six consecutive seasons ... Earned a perfect Driver Rating of 150.0 in his win at Pocono ... Led the most miles in the series with 1,691.8 miles led.

2006 -- Finished 16th in series points. ... Had one victory, at Bristol spring race. ... Recorded seven top-fives and 12 top-10s. ... Tied for series high with six poles. ... With a win in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, he became one of only 16 drivers with a win in all three of NASCAR's national series (NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Craftsman Truck Series).

2005 -- Finished 10th in series points. ... Ended season with three victories (Phoenix, Pocono and Richmond). ... Recorded nine top-fives and 18 top-10s. ... Was runner-up in the Daytona 500. ... Finished in the top three in the season's first three races. ... Missed the final two races of the season after being suspended by car owner Jack Roush.

2004 -- Won the series championship. ... Finished with three wins, one pole, 10 top-fives, 21 top-10s and a career-low three DNFs in 36 starts. ... Earned 1,506 points during the inaugural 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, eight points more than runner-up Jimmie Johnson. Was 16th in the point standings following the Daytona 500, but spent remaining 35 weeks in the top 10. ... Was seventh following race No. 26 at Richmond on Sept. 11, the cutoff point for the Chase. ... Took the standings lead with eight races remaining in the 10-race Chase and never relinquished it despite a blown engine at Atlanta and a detached right-front wheel early in the season finale at Homestead. ... Finished with one win, six top-fives and nine top-10s in the final 10 races.

2003 -- Finished 11th in series points. ... Early accident in season finale at Homestead-Miami cost him a chance to finish in the NASCAR Sprint Cup top 10. ... Experienced an up-and-down year with four wins, nine top-fives, 14 top-10s and a career-high eight DNFs. ... Led points for a week following back-to-back second-place finishes at Daytona and Rockingham in the season's opening events. ...Won both Bristol races, California and the first Michigan race.

2002 -- Finished third in series points. ... Had a breakthrough season with four wins (Bristol, Martinsville, Atlanta and Homestead). ... Had three wins in the final five weeks of the season. ... Won from the pole at Homestead.

2001 -- Finished 27th in series points. ... Finished third at the first Talladega race, fourth at Texas and fifth at Indianapolis. ... Earned first career pole, at Darlington, and led 74 laps before encountering mechanical problems.

2000 -- Finished 48th in series points. ... Made series debut at second Dover ... Made seven starts for Roush Fenway Racing. ... Best finish 13th at Lowe's Motor Speedway in October.

PREVIOUS RACING HISTORY

Runner-up for the 2000 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship and had four victories that season. ... In 1999, Busch won the NASCAR Southwest Series, NASCAR Touring championship driving for Craig Keough. ... At age 21, was the youngest driver to win that series' championship ... Southwest Series Rookie of the Year in 1998. ... Competed in the Southwest Series from 1997-1999, recording seven wins. ... Won the 1996 Hobby Stock track championship at the Las Vegas Speedway Park. ... The 1996 Legend Cars National Rookie of the Year and Legend Cars Western States champion. ... Won Nevada Dwarf Car championship in 1995. ... Was the 1994 Nevada State Dwarf Car Rookie of the Year. ... Began racing at age 14, in Dwarf Cars at Parhump Valley Speedway near Las Vegas.

NOTEWORTHY

Younger brother Kyle also competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series. ... A lifelong Chicago Cubs fan and his favorite athlete is Ryne Sandberg. ... Loves Italian food.