Tag Archives: Kurt Busch

Kurt Busch’s final race with Phoenix Racing ends with black flag at ‘Dega

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Kurt Busch, driver of the #51 Phoenix Construction Chevrolet, spins out after leading at Talladega Superspeedway. Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR

Kurt Busch was leading the race at Talledga until lap 99, when apparently he had run out of gas. Going at those speeds, with the pack behind you, and you run out of gas could lead to terminal circumstances, as it did for Busch. Jamie McMurray hit the No. 51 Chevrolet from behind, sending him spinning and hitting the inside retaining wall.

Apparently, when the car came to a rest, Busch had taken off his helmet and climbed out to check the car and noticed he could continue to the garage for the team to repair it and get it back out.

However, in the meantime the safety crew had shown up, placed their gear on the back of the car and went to assist Busch for his mandatory ambulance ride to the infield care center. But Busch had something else on his mind… to get to the garage. So he took off. Apparently he wasn’t totally out of gas….

NASCAR and team GM Steve Barkdoll were yelling at him to stop – but without his helmet on – Busch didn’t hear the commands and was eventually black flagged by NASCAR for ignoring the request.

“I guess they were telling me to stop. That is the competitor, that is the desire I have to stay in the race and to keep going,” he said. “I got out of the car, I kept going and saw the car would roll and it didn’t have flat tires.

Credit: Sean Gardner/Getty Images

“I was hoping to get the car back to the garage to work on it and get back in this race. NASCAR was yelling at me to stop, I didn’t have my helmet on and I was in worse trouble. This is the story of my life. Kurt Busch. Leading the race, runs out of gas, tries to get back in the race with that competitive desire, gets yelled at by NASCAR and now I have a storm of media around me and I don’t know what to even say or what to do next.”

That’s his story, and he’s sticking to it.

This was the conclusion of the (team) relationship between Kurt Busch and Phoenix Racing with the results after 29 Cup races together only earning two top-10s and six DNFs. Busch will drive for Furniture Row Racing starting next weekend at Charlotte and for the 2013 season, while displaced Regan Smith will take over the No. 51 Chevrolet at Charlotte.

Good luck Furniture Row, you are going to need it!

Regan Smith, Furniture Row & Kurt Busch, Phoenix Racing to part ways after ‘Dega

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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.

Kurt Busch, Phoenix Racing’s hunger for win satisfied in NNS race at Daytona

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Photo credit Getty Images for NASCAR.

It was a hot night at Daytona International Speedway. Not just talking about the temperatures, but the action on the speedway as well.

It had been a long time coming. Finally an exciting race! Last evening’s Jalapeno 250 produced a record 42 lead changes, an increase over last year’s lead changes, which was 36.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. pushed the James Finch bright orange No. 1 Chevy to the checkered flag in a wild race that ended with Austin Dillon wrecking in the tri-oval as Busch crossed the finish line.

“You want to put James Finch in Victory Lane,” stated Busch. “That’s what he’s all about.”

Busch had stated in his post-race interview that Finch wanted his car bright orange Chevy, nicknamed “great pumpkin,” so sponsors can see his car run upfront.

 

Smart man.

 

Congratulations to Kurt Busch and Phoenix Racing.

Media needs to move on from NASCAR driver Kurt Busch

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012 Daytona Feb Kurt Busch watches practice 2/22/2012 | Tom Pennington/Getty Images for NASCAR

Oh, just cry me a river….

I have one thing that I have to talk about that really hit a nerve with me….the media now crying whenever Kurt Busch has a comment about something.

Granted, the comment Kurt Busch made to Sporting News journalist Bob Pockrass after the Nationwide race at Dover was very unprofessional, rude and disrespectful (for details, read the article here) doesn’t mean that the media has the right to be out on a witch hunt and cry fowl every time Kurt Busch speaks.

For example, I recently saw an article by ESPN titled “Kurt Busch has heated exchange” and then a video posted on the same page titled “Run In With Kurt Busch.” After watching and reading the article, I sat there contemplating on whether I should say something…

O.M.G. You better believe I will!

My first reaction was, “Really? Now we’re going to see Kurt Busch said this and that…WAH!”

ESPN is going to report a “heated exchange” that was not even worth reporting about? Come on. Why report it? Because it will get reader’s attention – after all – it got mine. But I must ask: Was this Marty Smith’s way to have his “Oh it happened to me, too!” and I deserve my five minutes of fame for crying fowl to something that was simply being stated by Kurt Busch?

The main rule should be if you see that a driver is irritated, which Smith stated, and leaves the room, why chase after him? Nothing is stated by Busch’s probation that Busch cannot show reaction or even say anything sarcastic while at a NASCAR sanctioned track. It is a known fact among the media that NASCAR mandates that the top 3 finishers of any race is required to hold a post-race interview in the media center. Joey Logano‘s interview went a little longer than expected – Busch stepped out and later, did return, as required, for his media conference. NASCAR officials said Busch’s exchange with Smith did not violate his probation…so why report it?

Busch has served his sentence, as well as hurting the team possibly in the long run, but what’s done is done. It’s time to move on. According to Sirius XM radio, Phoenix Racing’s owner, James Finch, had a “Jesus talk” or rather a heart to heart with Kurt Busch, and pretty much told him to “stop wrecking the cars, be nice to people and stay away from the media. If you don’t have anything nice to say, just say no comment.” Plain and simple. Busch is upholding his end of the bargain – so far – so now it’s the media’s turn that should respect that and don’t be looking for little negative things to report. It’s time for the media to start acting in the same responsible manner as Busch is being upheld to.

So here’s the REAL news from something that was TRYING to be the “racey, juicy news” from all this…. Marty Smith got his feelings hurt; Joey Loagno won at Pocono Raceway and his interview took a little longer than expected; Kurt Busch was a little irritated after MRN said (on air) that he refused an interview with them, and Busch finished third.

Straight. Factual. Right to the point. Now that wasn’t hard at all!

Oh yeah, MOVING ON!!

NASCAR suspends driver Kurt Busch; Extends probation

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 4, 2012) – NASCAR has suspended driver Kurt Busch until June 13 of this year and extended his NASCAR probation until Dec. 31 for his actions following the NASCAR Nationwide Series race June 2 at Dover International Speedway.

Kurt Busch violated Section 12-1 (Actions detrimental to stock car racing; violation of probation; verbal abuse to a media member) of the 2012 NASCAR Rule Book. Kurt Busch had previously been placed on NASCAR probation May 15 for his actions during the May 12 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Darlington Raceway. That probation was originally scheduled to end July 25 but has now been extended through the end of this year.

NASCAR RELEASE

 

Phoenix Racing’s Kurt Busch flies off handle after Darlington incident

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According to Jayskis, several of Ryan Newman’s crewmen confronted Phoenix Racing’s Kurt Busch Saturday night at Darlington Raceway following Kurt Busch’s angry burnout through Newman’s pit box.

After Busch had a flat tire and crashed with six laps remaining – an incident which also collected Newman – the Phoenix Racing driver lost his cool and began yelling on the team radio. When Busch completed his pit stop to fix damage shortly after the wreck, he did a loud, angry burnout while leaving his pit box.

However, during the burnout, Busch drove through Newman’s pit box as well – and several Newman crew members were still over the wall after recently completing service on the #39 car. Among the angry crewmen was Newman’s gas man, Andy Rueger, who went to the Phoenix Racing hauler to await Busch’s arrival. Busch’s crew chief Nick Harrison instructed Busch to stop at the entrance of pit road and leave the car there instead. The driver was livid on the radio and had been screaming obscenities during the final few laps, and the team felt it would be a good idea for him just to get off the track.

Words were exchanged between the crewmen and Busch, and a NASCAR official fell onto Busch’s hood in the process. Robin Pemberton said the official just lost his footing.

It’s unclear whether NASCAR will issue any penalties in this situation.

Kurt Busch to run limited Nationwide races for Phoenix Racing

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Phoenix Racing announced today that they will field the No. 1 Chevrolet in a limited amount of NASCAR Nationwide Series races (NNS), starting at Daytona with Kurt Busch.

This is in addition to running the complete NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule with Kurt Busch.

The team plans on running all major events and are looking for sponsorship for these races.

Kurt Busch, A.J. Allmendinger land new rides for 2012

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Phoenix Racing snags Kurt Busch

No. 51 Phoenix Racing Chevy. Photo credit: Sandi Goodall/Racingal.com

A few days after the season-ending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Banquet in Las Vegas, Busch stated “I just want to get back to having fun in the racecar.”

“I’m very happy to join Phoenix Racing and after entertaining a lot of quality offers, there’s no better place for me,” said Busch, winner of 24 Sprint Cup races, as well as the 2010 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, the 2011 Gatorade Duel and the 2011 Budweiser Shootout.

James Finch, owner of Phoenix Racing (No. 51), celebrated his 20th year as a NASCAR team owner in 2011. His Spartanburg, S.C.-based team has won 13 NASCAR races, the most prominent of which was the April 2009 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.
The team will be testing at Daytona International Speedway in January. Busch’s first race will be the non-points Budweiser Shootout at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway where he is the defending winner.
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A.J. Allmendinger to Penske

Penske Racing has named AJ Allmendinger as the driver of the team’s No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Dodge Charger for the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Allmendinger, who has competed in the Cup Series since 2007, is coming off a strong season that saw him finish 15th in the series standings while battling for a position in the Chase for the Championship. The 30-year-old native of Los Gatos, Calif., earned one top-five, 10 top-10 and 22 top-15 results in 2011 while driving the No. 43 car for Richard Petty Motorsports.

Allmendinger will be paired with crew chief Todd Gordon, who led the Penske Racing No. 22 Nationwide Series team to six victories last season and was named last week as the new chief of the Shell-Pennzoil Dodge.

James Finch, owner of Phoenix Racing, comments on Kurt Busch

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Who will be the next driver for the James Finch owned Phoenix Racing's No. 51 Chevrolet? Photo credit: Sandi Goodall/Racingal.com

James Finch, the owner of Phoenix Racing, said he had a deal with Ragan to drive the #51 Chevy next season subject “to him getting a better deal” and that Kurt Busch has contacted Finch about driving for his organization.

Ragan confirmed he has met with Roger Penske in Detroit and plans to meet with Shell Pennzoil officials next week. Could this be it? Shell Pennzoil officials have the final say on the driver for the No. 22 Penske Dodge.

“I told him I’d meet with him (Busch) and see what’s going on,” Finch said. “I haven’t decided who I am going to put in my car next year. He wasn’t necessarily at the top of the list.”

Finch said Busch’s behavior that led to what was described as a “mutual” split with Penske Racing wouldn’t discourage him from hiring the 2004 Cup champion. He also said he wouldn’t tolerate Busch’s sometimes volatile behavior. “Kurt, his talent is pretty good,” Finch said. “He’s one of the best there is, but I’m not going to listen to that s— and pay him money.”

Finch jokingly said he would make Jimmy Spencer, who as a driver had a long feud with Busch in the early 2000s, Busch’s crew chief.

Finch split last season between four drivers, with Landon Cassill competing in 29 of the 36 races. Cassill’s best finish was 12th at Michigan as he compiled an average finish of 28.8.

Finch’s No. 51 car finished 30th in owner’s points and is supplied engines by Hendrick Motorsports – is considered as the best available ride outside of any of the top teams. Finch said that a driver such as Busch would elevate the organization to a potential chase contender.

But Finch said he has options outside of Busch and Ragan. He has talked with former race winners David Reutimann and Brian Vickers, as well.

Source: ESPN

 

Eagle eye on Kurt Busch: Possible landings for former Penske driver

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How about these scenarios:

 

Phoenix Racing (#51), which finished 30th in the owner points this season with Landon Cassill as its primary driver, and TRG Motorsports (#71), which finished 36th in owner points, don’t have a driver signed for 2012.

 

Front Row Motorsports drivers Gilliland, Kvapil nor Yeley are not under contract.

 

For Phoenix, TRG and Front Row, a driver of Busch’s skill (not attitude) would be a major addition, but not sure it would help sell sponsorship.

 

I can just imagine Busch’s references – Roush Fenway co-owner Jack Roush has vowed never to hire Busch again, following his stormy exit at the end of the 2005 season. And Penske, of course, won’t take Busch back.

 

This is when he hopes skill trumps attitude.