Racing News: Kyle Busch Wins Economaki Champion of Champions Award

CHAMPION: Kyle Busch has been named the winner of the seventh annual Economaki Champion of Champions Award presented by National Speed Sport News. The NASCAR Nationwide champion won 20 races in NASCAR’s top three national touring series and earned 25 overall stock-car victories.

TEAM OWNER: Kyle Busch has created Kyle Busch Motorsports led by veteran crew chief Rick Ren. The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team will field two full-time trucks with Busch and Brian Ickler sharing one and Tyler Malsam driving the second.

ROAD TO INDY: The Indy Racing League unveiled its new Road to Indy driver-development ladder system. The program begins with the U.S. F2000 National Championship and includes the Star Mazda Championship and the Firestone Indy Lights, with hopes the three tours will produce future Indy car drivers for the IZOD IndyCar Series.

THE KING AND I: NASCAR driver Tony Stewart has hired 20-time World of Outlaws champion Steve Kinser to steer his Bass Pro Shops entry in the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series. The car will run out of the Steve Kinser Racing shop and carry the No. 11. Meanwhile, Kraig Kinser, Steve’s son, will wheel the SKR No. 11k sprint car.

COME BACK TIME: Rumors persist that seven-time World Driving Champion Michael Schumacher will return to the sport and sign a contract with Mercedes GP later this week.

HIRED: Steve Addington, crew chief for Kyle Busch at Joe Gibbs Racing for two years, has been hired by Penske Racing as the new crew chief for Kurt Busch.

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