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CONCORD — Kurt Busch has a new deal. Sort of. Kevin Harvick and Kasey Kahne don't.

The season begins in less than a month, but the main topic is where some of the sport's top drivers could be after this season.

Car owner Roger Penske said that his team has exercised its option on Busch for the 2011 season but has not negotiated financial details. Busch, who finished fourth in the points standings last season, said he has a clause in his contract that allows him to explore other opportunities even though the team has exercised its option for 2011.

"I'm never going to back myself into a corner,'' Busch said. "I've got to understand what's out there. All of it will be done in a fashion where Roger and I are on the same page and we do it very respectfully."

Busch also said about his current ride: "This is where I'd love to be."

Harvick was vocal last year about his frustrations with how his Richard Childress Racing team performed, leading to questions of if he would get out of his contract. Harvick finished 19th in the points last year. He's back for his 10th Cup season at Childress but with his contract expiring after this season, could it be Harvick's last year there?

"When the time comes, we'll talk," Childress said of negotiations with Harvick.

Asked if a strong start to the season could convince Harvick to sign an extension and remain at Childress, Harvick said: "You would have never known it was going to be a complete disaster five races in (last season). You just have to let it all play out."

Kahne also was vocal last season about his team's struggles at times and with the management at Richard Petty Motorsports even though he made the Chase and finished 10th. The team merged with Yates Racing in the offseason and switched from Dodge to Ford. So, what will it take for Kahne to remain there?

"Just performance,'' he said. "That's all I've ever really asked for. It's all I ever wanted to do is run well and race well.''

LEADERSHIP CHANGE: The Associated Press, citing unidentified sources, reports that NASCAR is interviewing candidates for a new Sprint Cup series director with John Darby being moved into a managerial role.

Darby oversees the Cup garage and is in charge of enforcing the rules. He replaced Gary Nelson in that role after the 2001 season and oversaw the development and implementation of the Car of Tomorrow.

Darby is expected to move into an oversight role at NASCAR's research and development center.

BABY NEWS: Carl Edwards said his wife is due with the couple's first child on Feb. 17. The Daytona 500 is scheduled for Feb. 14.

Elliott Sadler said his wife is due with the couple's first child in about four weeks, putting its arrival date just after Edwards'.

TESTING: Goodyear performed a tire test Tuesday at Texas Motor Speedway that featured teams using a rear spoiler instead of the rear wing for part of the session. Testing continues today. Tony Stewart, Greg Biffle, Kurt Busch and Brian Vickers are taking part.

PIT STOPS: Car owner Richard Childress on if he'll ever bring back the black No. 3 on the Cup circuit: "We don't really have plans to run it in Cup.'' … Childress also said the team has a technical alliance with Furniture Row Racing and could work out a deal that would allow that team to use the points from the No. 07 team that Childress has shut down. If that happens, it would allow Furniture Row and driver Regan Smith to be guaranteed a starting spot in the first five Cup races this year.

Contact Dustin Long at 373-7062 or dustin.long@news-record.com