Driver Kyle Busch and sponsor Mars Inc. have both signed multi-year contract extension to remain with Joe Gibbs Racing's #18 team in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, the race team announced Thursday. Details including the specific lengths of the contracts were not disclosed.
“Since the start of our partnership together in 2008, our relationship has been strong,” car owner Joe Gibbs said. “As a team owner, the hope is to find partners and drivers that help us grow as an organization, and Kyle Busch and Mars, Incorporated have done exactly that. We have one of the longest partnerships in all of sports, and that really speaks to the strength of the understanding and respect we have for one another.”
Busch has driven the #18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota since 2008, moving there from Hendrick Motorsports. He won the 2015 Cup Series championship with the team, despite missing the first 11 races of the 36-race season because of injuries sustained during a NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Daytona International Speedway. He has been among the four drivers contending for the Cup Series title in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway in each of the last four seasons.
Forty-seven of Busch's 51-career wins in the Cup Series have come with JGR. He matched Kevin Harvick for most wins last season.
“I’m proud and honored to continue to compete for Joe Gibbs Racing and Mars,” Busch said. “Racing for more than a decade with such an iconic team and sponsor has been incredible, and knowing that we can continue this winning relationship is very special.”
Busch also races part-time in the Xfinity Series for Joe Gibbs Racing and in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series for his own team. He holds the distinction of being the all-time winningest driver in both series.
