Roush hooks up with Charter for Busch campaign.

Charter Communications has confirmed that it is to undertake a full-season NASCAR Busch Series campaign as primary sponsor on Roush Racing's #60 Ford Taurus in 2004.

Greg Biffle will pilot the car, making an all-out effort on the 2004 Busch Series championship to help build awareness of Charter's various brands. The 2002 Busch Series champion, Biffle is one of only a handful of drivers to score wins in NASCAR's top three series - the Winston Cup, Busch Series and Craftsman Trucks.

"There is no sports marketing property that lines up as well with the Charter geographic footprint than NASCAR," said company president and CEO Carl Vogel, "When we realised that Jack Roush, Greg Biffle and the #60 team were looking to repeat the '02 Busch Series championship, we moved quickly to seize the opportunity to sponsor the programme. This partnership will be a tremendous platform to introduce Charter's broadband services to millions of race fans. In teaming up with an organisation like Roush, we anticipate being at or near the lead of the pack each week ... and that truly sums up the philosophy of Charter."

Charter Communications is America's third-largest broadband communications company and Roush Racing owner Jack Roush said that he was pleased to have landed its backing to get the #60 team back in action.

"To have the nation's third largest broadband communications company on board sends a clear message that the best has chosen the best, equating the quality of their products and services to a proven, championship team like Roush Racing," he said, "We aim to quickly make the Charter brand top-of-mind among these 75 million NASCAR fans - and we're going to do it through strong performances, quality marketing, and inventive PR support."

The power of the Charter Communications/Roush #60 programme will be underscored with the first-time pairing of the driver and crew chief collectively responsible for nine victories out of the 34-race 2002 season. Biffle notched four wins in 2002, while Brad Parrott, who led Roush Racing's entry with Jeff Burton to five wins in just 14 races, will lead the team as crew chief.

Biffle's 2004 return to the NBS will make the 33-year-old one of the busiest competitors in the pit-lane as, in addition to the Busch programme, he will also compete in a full 36-race Nextel Cup Series schedule driving the #16 Roush entry.

"I told Jack all season long that I'm more than willing to run a full Busch Series programme in addition to our Nextel Cup Series program," Biffle confirmed, "I fully intend to become the best driver I can be for this organisation, and logging mile after mile under extreme, competitive conditions will take me to this personal goal. I cannot thank Charter Communications and its employees enough for putting their faith in this organisation to take them to the top of the sport. Personally speaking, anything less than a repeat championship will be disappointing."

Roush said specific details about running Biffle in both series would be revealed at a later date.

"Where scheduling difficulties possibly arise due to geographic or weather-related issues, our Craftsman Truck Series star Carl Edwards will stand by to qualify or possibly even race the #60 Charter Communications Taurus," he allowed.