Kyle Busch reaches extension with Joe Gibbs Racing

CONCORD, N.C. - Kyle Busch has earned the reputation for being moody and demanding, but the NASCAR Sprint Cup star had several million reasons to relax Monday afternoon.

During the NASCAR Sprint Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway, Busch confirmed that he had signed a multi-year contract extension with Joe Gibbs Racing.

Reporters peppered Busch about specifics with his new deal. To Busch, it was all about security.

“What does multi-year deal mean to me?“ Busch said. “It means a secure future. Joe and J.D. [Gibbs] were very receptive to my ideas. I was receptive to their ideas on how to further along our relationship and our commitment to each other, and to do that was to get the deal done… show our sponsors that we’re committed to each other.

“The people in the shop worried. ‘Is Kyle Busch going to be here or not?‘ We put all that to rest.“

J.D. Gibbs, president of Joe Gibbs Racing, expressed his relief after the announcement.

“It’s something we’ve been working on for a while,“ Gibbs said. “We probably could’ve announced this earlier. We were just getting some of the details ironed out and finalized.“

The contract for Busch was set to expire after the 2010 season. Despite failing to make the Chase for the Championship last season, Busch pointed to the positive signals with the Gibbs team.

“We struggled a little bit through 2008 and unfortunately missed the Chase, but I see the organization is strong,“ Busch said. “I see the way Joey [Logano] really came along toward the end of the year and got a lot better. I see the way Denny [Hamlin] ran. I mean, shoot, he had a shot to win the championship.

“Our stuff is there. It’s all about having the right people in the right place.“

And Busch will be back in his same place this season in the No. 18 Toyota.