Kyle Busch Will Drive No. 5 Lowe’s Chevrolet in 2006 Busch Series

Busch to Contend for NASCAR Cup & Busch Championship with Hendrick Motorsports

Kyle Busch

CONCORD, N.C. (December 19, 2005) – Lowe’s and Hendrick Motorsports today announced that Kyle Busch is scheduled to drive the No. 5 Lowe’s Chevrolet in every NASCAR Busch Series race in 2006.

“It’s good to be back in the Lowe’s Chevrolet and back full time in the Busch Series,” said Busch, who was named the series’ Rookie of the Year and finished second in the championship standings in 2004.

“Hopefully we can repeat the success we had in my first season. I love the Busch Series, so I’m excited that Lowe’s, its vendor partners and especially Lowe’s employees are enthusiastic about having me back. I know its going to make for a pretty hectic schedule, but I’m a racer. The more I race, the happier I am. ”

The 20-year-old’s six career Busch Series victories have all come in the No. 5 Lowe’s Chevrolet, including a win at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in May. Busch drove a partial Busch schedule last season while competing full time in the Nextel Cup Series, where he won twice and claimed Rookie of the Year honors.

Busch will continue in the No. 5 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series car in addition to his new Busch Series duties for Hendrick Motorsports.

"Kyle Busch is a phenomenal talent, and everyone at Hendrick Motorsports is excited about having him back in the No. 5 Lowe’s Chevy," said Marshall Carlson, general manager of Hendrick Motorsports. "We're honored to represent Lowe's and their vendors in the Busch Series, and we've prepared to perform against a very competitive field next season."

Kobalt®, a line of tools and accessories available exclusively at Lowe’s, will join returning vendor partners Spectracide®, Sta-Green®, Hitachi Power Tools®, Shop-Vac®, and Pella® as associate sponsors of the No. 5 Chevrolet in 2006.

“Lowe’s and its vendor partners are proud to have Kyle back behind the wheel of the No. 5 Lowe’s Chevrolet,” said Bob Gfeller, Lowe’s senior vice president of marketing and advertising. “What he accomplished in 2004 in the Busch Series and then last year in Nextel Cup is incredible. We know with Jimmie Johnson driving the No. 48 on Sundays and Kyle driving the No. 5 on Saturdays, Lowe’s has a good chance of going to victory lane in every race.”

Chad Walter, who was named as crew chief of the No. 5 team in September, will return to lead the No. 5 team in what will be its fifth season of Busch Series competition.

“I’m looking forward to the upcoming season for a lot of reasons,” said Walter. “We have a talented young driver in Kyle, and great sponsors in Lowe’s and their vendor partners. It should be a fun year for us. Our goal is to win races and contend for a championship.”

The No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports team began competing in the NASCAR Busch Series in 2002 with driver/team owner Ricky Hendrick. When Hendrick retired from driving near the end of the 2002 season, he chose Brian Vickers as his replacement for 2003. Vickers rewarded Hendrick’s decision, posting three wins in the No. 5 on his way to claiming the 2003 Busch Series Drivers’ Championship.

Kyle Busch took over driving duties in the No. 5 in 2004, with sponsorship from Lowe’s. Busch had one of the most impressive rookie seasons in NASCAR history that year, shattering multiple Busch Series’ rookie records on his way to a runner-up finish in the points standings.

Last season, Busch and six other drivers shared seat time in the No. 5 Lowe’s Chevrolet, with Busch winning the May Busch Series race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.