Stewart-Haas Racing

Kurt Busch sued for more than $1.4 million by former agency

Published Feb. 17, 2017 2:46 p.m. ET

Joe Menzer

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Kurt Busch is being sued by the agency that formerly represented him for more than $1.4 million, according to court documents and multiple media reports.

The agency, Sports Management Network, is alleging that Busch has not paid fees owed them since last March.

Busch, the 2004 NASCAR Premier Series champion with 28 career victories who drives the No. 41 Ford for Stewart-Haas Racing, allegedly had agreed to compensate the agency 10 percent of revenue derived from his salary and personal services agreements beginning in January 2013, according to documents filed in U.S. District Court in Michigan.

The suit claims that since the first quarter of 2016, Busch “ceased paying SMN altogether.” Busch had been represented by SMN since 2005, but abruptly ended the relationship last March.

SMN claims it was owed a total of $930,450 -- comprising seven installments at the time of filing suit – and another $540,000 yet to be invoiced for 2017.

“We believe the lawsuit is without merit, and we plan to vigorously defend the lawsuit," attorney Alan Miller, who represents Busch, told MLive.com, which first reported the lawsuit.

Miller has not yet filed a response in court.

SMN, run by agent John Caponigro, filed the lawsuit earlier this month in U.S. District Court in Michigan. It claims it had an agreement with Busch through 2018 that required him to pay the agency 10 percent of his salary and personal services agreements.

Caponigro's firm, based in Troy, Michigan, represents several motorsports drivers and personalities, including the Andretti family, Al Unser Sr., Graham Rahal and Brad Keselowski, as well as coaches and media personalities in other sports. It began to represent Busch in 2005, a year after he won his only NASCAR Premier Series title.

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