Kurt Busch joins Phoenix Racing for 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup

The announcement comes just weeks after Busch reached a mutual agreement to split with Penske Racing after a tumultuous end to 2011, which culminated in an expletive-laden tirade against a member of the media.

Busch said his original ambition had been to run part-time with several different teams, and that several offers had been tabled, but that an offer of a full season from Phoenix Racing team owner James Finch had proved too good to turn down.

He also said he was already seeing a sports psychologist on a routine basis as he bids to rebuild his image and negotiate a return to the elite teams for 2013.

"Christmas came early for me, and it was nice that we were able to sit down [Wednesday] night, have a beer and then have a handshake deal at the end of it," Busch said.

"James Finch is exactly what I'm looking for, as far as getting back into the race car to have fun.

"There's steps that I've taken already - each week, talking with the sports psychologist on a routine basis [and] working with the different programs that we're going through. This is all stuff that you can say you're going to make a difference, but I'm putting it into action.

"So having this opportunity with Finch before the holidays just gives you that fresh buzz."

Finch, whose outfit has won once at Sprint Cup level - when Brad Keselowski triumphed at Talladega in 2009 - said Busch's arrival would help Phoenix Racing challenge for victory on a more consistent basis.

"All we want to do is win," Finch said. "Winning is why I've been in racing for as long as I have, but NASCAR is a very competitive sport, and winning - especially at the Sprint Cup level - is hard.

"But now with Kurt Busch as our driver, we have a shot to win every week. He's a past champion and he's proven he can win everywhere. Our sponsors are looking forward to Kurt representing their brands.

"We have excellent equipment and a hard-working group of guys who want that trophy at the end of every race. Kurt's the guy who can deliver it to them."

While 2011 was a tumultuous year for Busch, he still won twice in the Sprint Cup - at Sonoma and Dover - and qualified for the Chase for the sixth time in eight years.