A spokesperson for the team declined to confirm Busch's firing today, but multiple sources say Busch has been informed that he will not return next season. An official announcement is expected Monday.
There is no word on who will replace Busch at the wheel of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Dodge, which finished 11th in Sprint Cup Series points this season with two wins, eight Top-5 and 16 Top-10 finishes in 36 starts. A handful of drivers -- including David Reutimann, David Ragan and Brian Vickers -- remain unsigned for the 2012 campaign, and could replace Busch and Penske Racing. The Las Vegas native will have a more difficult time finding competitive employment next season, with the vast majority of championship contending seats already filled.
NASCAR fined Busch $50,000 for his abuse of Punch, which was captured by a fan's cell phone and widely viewed on YouTube in the days following the incident. Penske Racing issued a statement the following week calling Busch's actions "inconsistent with the company’s standards for behavior, respect for others and professionalism," adding that the matter was under internal review.
The termination is eerily similar to his departure from Roush Fenway Racing in November of 2005, when he was pink-slipped with two races remaining after what team president Geoff Smith called "vituperative abusiveness" to law enforcement officials during a traffic stop near Phoenix International Raceway. Busch had already announced plans to leave the team at season's end to drive for Penske.
One down, One to go ...
ReplyDeleteExactly what I was going to post. Good riddance.
ReplyDeleteReap what you sow.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunate timing. He will get more air time this week than the post-awards.
ReplyDeleteNow Kyle will really be on the rope, he hasn't been fired butt he close to it. YAHOO
ReplyDeleteIf they would only hire Reutiman. They would have a class act in good equipment.
ReplyDeleterut ro
ReplyDeleteyes unfortunately this will get a ton of airtime!
ReplyDeleteI agree.... David Reutimann is the man
ReplyDeleteIf Roger wants a driver that he doesn't have to worry about pulling stunts, then Reuti is his man.
ReplyDeleteKeeping my fingers crossed.
I hear KBM is looking for a driver to fill the seats of the Nationwide and Truck teams when Kyle himself isn't driving. Only team that's likely to hire him now. LOL
ReplyDeleteHow big is the celebration at Miller Lite? Oh, by the way, anybody think Miller Lite thought they got a bum steer being moved to Keselowski? And you know there has to be a little bit of a smirk on Harvicks face.
ReplyDeleteMr. Penski? I would like to direct your attention to that fine upstanding racer with the nose. I heard he loves love.
Kelly in Manitoba
I think it will come down to David or David, Reutimann has the nod I think, we'll see!!
ReplyDeleteWhen will these boy's....And yes BOY's Learn that they are not as great as they think they are.. This is good for the sport!!!
ReplyDeleteit is easy to pick on the busch brothers these days. but rest assured, if joe from joes widgets offers childress the cash and wants kurt as the driver, he will be in an rcr car quicker than you can hit redial to 866 pit lane.
ReplyDeleteYES!!!! I was waiting for it!! I am so excited to hear that David Reutimann gets the seat with Darian Grubb as the Crew Cheif. Too bad Addington already left. But this could be the best thing to happen to Penske.
ReplyDeletePlease just not Vickers- he is just as bad as Busch.
Nancy K
wont get any airtime, all the nascar shows are done for the season.
ReplyDelete7 am Monday, Sirius Nascar Radio will have more calls then they will be able to handle and it'll go on all day. Never a dull moment.
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ReplyDeleteHEY KURT YOU WANT THE PHONE NUMBER THE NORTH CAROLINA UNEMPLOYMENT OFFICE.
ReplyDeleteshould fire the other brother too
ReplyDeleteI was wondering how long Penske would put up with that. KYLE BEWARE....you are on thin ice too..maybe NOW the Busch Bros will see they are not invincible. Think Eva saw this coming &get baile
ReplyDeleteAmazing the amount of hate that is being displayed here. If what you folks want is boys have pudding, then you're well on your way to the white-breading of NASCAR. If you force the Busch boys out, do you really think it opens up more opportunities for Jr to actually win a race?
ReplyDeleteIts amazing to me the comments above. This is a business that requires CSI, Kurt and Kyle have both failed their employers and their sponsors. If Kurt has been fired he will land on his feet, a bit more humble, but he will land on his feet. I hope that he learns from his experence. I hope he does not turn into a Mayfeild.
ReplyDeleteThat's SOoooooooo Friggin awesome finally !!! Leave kyle tho, we need a bad guy on the race track not off it ....
ReplyDeleteDavid x2, idc who will penske pick but i hope is Sam! go get em Sam!
NASCAR without the Busch brothers = Boring. How much motherhood and corporate apple pie can you take? These guys are flawed but so what. They add to show. The NFL needs the Oakland Raiders and NASCAR needs the Busch brothers.
ReplyDeleteThat's where you're wrong, Jeff. NASCAR got along quite well before Kurt Busch, and they'll do fine without him, if necessary. The sport has survived without Richard Petty, David Pearson, Cale Yarborough and Dale Earnhardt. Do you REALLY think Kurt's loss will bring everything crashing down?
ReplyDeleteI hope he gets his act together and finds a way to deal with whatever demons cause him to act this way. But if not, the racing will continue in his absence.
I applaud Roger Penske for firing this loud mouth punk. Never liked Kurt. Busch. Now if Joe Gibbs would just grow a pair.
ReplyDeletewell said Dave!!
ReplyDelete