It was reported yesterday that Regan Smith’s final race of the season in the Furniture Row Racing #78 will be at Talladega.
Kurt Busch’s last race with Phoenix Racing will be Talladega.
Kurt Busch’s first race with Furniture Row Racing could be at Charlotte in two weeks to get a head start for the 2013 season.
It’s like playing musical chairs, only, it to be drivers seats, at Phoenix Racing….
James Finch is looking at drivers with potential to fill the seat, and who also could bring on sponsorship. Those in the running: A.J. Allmendinger, Regan Smith, James Buescher & Justin Allgaier.
Wait a sec – James Buescher? Hasn’t he raced for Phoenix Racing before?
Yes, as a matter of fact, he has.
James Buescher, 2010. Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images
As history has it, Buescher was announced as the NNS 2010 driver for Phoenix Racing. To prepare for the season, he ran two races in the #1 Miccosukee Resorts Chevrolet, finishing 11th at Texas and 13th at Phoenix. A week prior to the beginning of the 2010 season, Phoenix Racing lost their main sponsor when Miccosukee announced it was dropping its sponsorship of all NASCAR teams, effective immediately. On May 12, 2010, Buescher and Phoenix Racing never seemed to have found the right chemistry and the two decided to part ways, which was, again, effective immediately. That’s when Buescher went to wheel for Turner Motorsports’ in the No. 31 Chevrolet Silverado Camping World Truck Series, and, who at the time, was engaged to Turner’s daughter.
Maybe absence grew the heart fonder and they found, at least, a little bit of chemistry now?
Other drivers who have ties with or have driven for James Finch:
- James Buescher (Nationwide Series)
- Brad Keselowski (Satellite driver contracted through Hendrick Motorsports for seat time & won at ‘Dega).
- Mike Bliss (#09 Cup Series; Released & then re-hired)
- Aric Almirola (hired, but never drove for #09 Cup team)
- Ryan Newman (Nationwide Series at Dover with a 2nd place finish).
- Kurt Busch (Partial 2012 season in the #51)
We’ll just have to wait and see WHO comes out – I mean INTO – this next. Never gets boring at Phoenix Racing.