February 28, 2019 | By Lee Spencetr

NASCAR Notebook: Kyle Busch and JGR agree to extension

As if there were ever a doubt, Kyle Busch will continue his stellar Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career at Joe Gibbs Racing.

The team’s alpha driver confirmed through a tweet on Thursday that he’ll be behind the wheel of the No. 18 JGR Toyota “for years to come.”

Busch, 33, joined JGR in 2008 with support from the Mars family. During his tenure with Gibbs, he has scored 47 wins and the 2015 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup title. In each of the last five seasons, Busch has advanced to the Championship 4 round at Miami-Homestead Speedway and has had a shot at the title.

He ranks 11th on the all-time Cup win list with 51 victories. Last weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Busch scored his 195th win among NASCAR’s top three series when he broke the all-time win record with his 52nd victory in the Gander Outdoors Truck Series. 

The Las Vegas native will compete in all three series this weekend at this home track. Busch won a Cup race from the pole in 2009. He won an Xfinity race from the pole in 2016 and a truck race from the pole last year.

A short retirement

Elliott Sadler remained on the sidelines just four months before announcing he would return to the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

On Thursday, Sadler announced he will drive the No. 10 Nutrien Ag Solution Chevy for Kaulig Racing  at his home track—Richmond Raceway on April 12th. Sadler, 43, will also race for Kaulig at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sept. 14. 

“I said I would only return to the race track if the right opportunity came along, and this is it,” Sadler said. “I’m thrilled to partner with Nutrien Ag Solutions and Kaulig racing for those two races and team up with Ross Chastain behind the wheel of the No. 10 Chevy. 

“I believe in the mission of Nutrien Ag Solution as they help farmers lead the field, and they wanted me to put my helment back on to do the same at Richmond and Las Vegas.”

The Emporia, Va.-native, has 13-career wins in the NXS and three Cup wins over the last two decades. Sadler was named Most Popular Driver in the Xfinity Series the past three years.

On the bucket list

When it comes to tracks Kurt Busch wants to conquer, there’s no place like home. 

And there’s no track Busch wants to earn the “W” more than Las Vegas Motor Speedway. 

Unfortunately, the 1.5-mile track has not been kind to Busch over the last 18 years. In 18 starts, Busch’s best result came in 2005 when he finished third.

“I would love to win there,” Busch said. “I have always put too much pressure on myself at Vegas. Now, with the second date in the Playoffs, that helps the routine and getting that track to feel like all the others when we are out on the tour.

“So I’m hoping so. In 2005, I did finish third, the two guys in front of me were illegal afterwards, so with the new rules I would have won it. So, maybe we will just be in position again, be right there.”

Despite winning two poles (2010, 2016), Busch has never been able to convert the track position into a victory. He enjoys his best average qualifying effort (ninth) at Vegas, but also suffers from his worst career average finish of 22.4.