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Penske Racing fires Kurt Busch

By Jim Utter

For the second time in his Sprint Cup Series career, an off-track issue has cost Kurt Busch his job.

Busch will not return next season to drive Penske Racing's No. 22 Dodge, multiple sources confirmed to the Observer and ThatsRacin.com on Sunday night.

An official announcement of Busch's departure from the organization is expected from Penske on Monday.

Just over a week ago NASCAR fined Busch $50,000 for the use of an obscene gesture and a profanity-laced tirade directed toward a media member during the Cup series finale race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The incident with ESPN reporter Dr. Jerry Punch, which took place in the garage after Busch's car broke its transmission, was caught on video and posted on YouTube.

At the time, Penske Racing officials issued a statement saying they were reviewing the matter internally.

Asked if he could confirm Busch as the driver of the No. 22 team in 2012, Penske spokesman Jonathan Gibson referred to its previous statement and said the organization would have no further comment at this time.

In November 2005, less than one year after winning his first Cup series championship, Busch was fired by Roush Fenway Racing after he was cited for criminal reckless in Avondale, Ariz., in what police described as an alcohol-related incident.

Busch sat out the remaining two races of the 2005 season. He began driving for team owner Roger Penske in the 2006 season.

Since joining Penske, Busch has won 10 races and his highest finish in the series standings was fourth in 2009.

This decision comes very late in the year and puts both Busch and Penske in a difficult position.

There are no quality rides currently available for next season for Busch to pursue, and no drivers with a resume on the track similar to Busch's presumably available for Penske to hire.

Several drivers who competed in the Cup series this season remain without rides, including David Ragan, Brian Vickers and David Reutimann.


Read more: http://www.thatsracin.com/2011/12/04/80040/penske-racing-fires-kurt-busch.html#ixzz1fcjGsGdD

David Smith Jr.
www.oklahomatidbits.com

I dont think anybody will want him for a while, I think he is going to have to get his anger and temper under control before they do.

All i can say is hip hip hurray, hip hip hurray, hip hip hurray what a puts.

Lance aka (FUNNN)


                     

I can't help but wonder..................................

If just maybe........somewhere in Pennsylvania , maybe close to Pocono, there just might be a sports memorabilia store that invested heavily in Penn State and Kurt Busch souvenirs................

Now that would be a clearance sale going NOWHERE!

Brian, they might have invested in Pennzoil, but I doubt they invested in Penn-Soil.

Goes to show how much racing has changed. Almost guarantee this was a sponsor call (which I happen to agree with). Years ago, if you could drive a race car, you could be the biggest horse's patoot in the garage and nobody cared....Ed Elisian comes to mind from AAA/USAC, and any number of hard cases and head cases from NASCAR. Now, if you can schmooze a sponsor and do a good TV spot, running mid-pack will keep you in a car. Both of the Bush brothers (that Bush as in bush league, BTW) missed something in their upbringing, and it's going to cost their careers if they can't learn it now. Won't that be a shame?

Yes Galen, times have changed since back then. Now you have to be politically correct or you get ramroded if you don't change or care.

Look at Stewart and how he was. One meeting with Gibbs changed his tune and he is totally different than when he first got to NASCAR.

David Smith Jr.
www.oklahomatidbits.com