NASCAR’s Busch brothers have enjoyed racing other types of motorsport beyond the stock car wars that pad their pockets. Kurt has driven NHRA Pro Stock and was Rookie of the Year at Indianapolis Motor Speedway when he raced in the Indianapolis 500 in 2014.
Now younger brother Kyle, the 2015 NASCAR Cup Series champion, is planning to race in the 2020 edition of IMSA’s Rolex 24 at Daytona, contesting the 58th annual midwinter twice-around-the-clock classic with AIM VASSER SULLIVAN (AVS) in a Lexus RC F GT3 in the GTD class.
“To have a chance to run in such an iconic race as the Rolex 24 is certainly something I’ve thought about and wanted to do,” Busch said during Toyota Motor North America’s annual Motorsports Day on Monday at their Plano, Texas headquarters. “My partnership with Toyota and the history we’ve had together has been incredible. I would love to continue that history and maybe get my own Daytona Rolex [watch] to add to my trophy collection.”
Busch has more victories for Toyota than any of its drivers. The Joe Gibbs Racing and KBR driver has accumulated 186 Toyota wins across all three NASCAR national series. Overall, he’s earned 207 career NASCAR wins combined and has scored 55 NASCAR Cup Series victories.
“We’re thrilled to have a racer of Kyle’s caliber join AIM VASSER SULLIVAN to open our 2020 season at the Rolex 24 at Daytona,” noted co-owner Jimmy Vasser, the 1996 [CART] INDYCAR series champion. “Kyle has proven he can compete and win in many forms of motorsports and we look forward to having him drive the Lexus RC F GT3 at Daytona.”
Busch holds the NASCAR record for the most wins in both the Xfinity Series, with 96, and Gander Outdoors Truck Series (56). He remains in the hunt for a second Cup Series championship with two races remaining on the 2019 tour; he’s made the series’ final four in the previous four years.
“Kyle Busch’s participation in the 2020 Rolex 24 at Daytona will continue the race’s longstanding tradition of showcasing many of the world’s top drivers, representing multiple racing disciplines,” noted Chip Wile, Daytona International Speedway president. “Kyle’s involvement comes on the heels of other high-profile drivers: Fernando Alonso, Jeff Gordon and Alex Zanardi, to name just a few. Another all-star lineup for the Rolex 24 is in the process of coming together.”
Kyle Busch will get his first taste of driving either the No. 12 or the No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3 in IMSA’s traditional Roar Before the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway, scheduled for January 3-5. The 58th annual Rolex 24 at Daytona is set for January 25-26.
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