Kurt Busch apparently out of ride at Penske

After this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsaBQq5D4Zg, Thatsracin reports, in an article by Jim Utter from the Charlote Observer, the following:
"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."

It's bad enough that due to the economy that no one wants to pick him up, but then he goes and basically ruins his reputation, again? Good luck finding a new ride, Kurt.

Wow. Just wow. You've done yourself in again, Kurt.

Brian Kesolowski wants to drive the 22.

Well, well, well. Two brothers racing for the same team. Now that should be fun. Imagine one of them taking the Sprint Cup next year.

If its not on Jayski, its not true, I'd hold off for now.

Dear Penske: Hire Ward Burton and my gratitude shall be eternal.

@ this news.

If Brian Keselowski could drive the 22, I'd be happier than ESPN at a Danica Patrick convention.

Anybody that replaces that a$$wipe Kurt Bytch will make my day. Whether it's Ward, BriKes, Regan, or, ooooh, I know! Robby Gordon!

That is all.

(OOC: This was moreover aimed at Kurt Busch than it was the Penske Racing team, by the way. )

Falcon_88 wrote:

Anybody that replaces that a$$wipe Kurt Bytch will make my day. Whether it's Ward, BriKes, Regan, or, ooooh, I know! Robby Gordon!

WHAT?.avi

From Jayski:

"Kurt Busch out at Penske? UPDATE mutual agreement to part ways: Penske Racing officials are meeting Monday to determine the future of driver #22-Kurt Busch. Penske officials were contacted by ESPN.com on Sunday, but would not confirm or deny the meeting over Busch's status, while the Charlotte Observer reported that Busch has been fired. Busch has been involved in several behavior incidents on the track this season, including the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Busch made an obscene hand gesture leaving the track after his transmission failure early in the race. He also had a profanity-laced tirade at ESPN's Dr. Jerry Punch and his camera crew in the garage moments later, which went viral on YouTube. NASCAR later penalized Busch $50,000 for the two incidents. Penske officials, along with team sponsors Shell Pennzoil, publicly reprimanded Busch afterward. Sources confirmed that Shell Pennzoil officials have spoken with team owner Roger Penske and expressed concerns about Busch continuing as the driver. Penske spokesman Bud Denker and Walt Czarnecki, the executive vice president of Penske Corportation, said they will stand by their comment made after Busch was fined by NASCAR that they will not comment further until their internal review is complete. Kurt Busch had an earlier incident with reporters this season at Richmond in September, the final event before the Chase started. He had to be restrained from a NASCAR.com reporter on pit road. Busch also tore another reporter's interview transcript in half after being questioned about recorded comments that he denied making. Last week in Las Vegas, Busch said he was seeing a sports psychologist to deal with his anger issues.(ESPN)
AND Speculation points to David Ragan as the leading candidate for the job. Ragan spent the 2011 season with Roush Fenway Racing, but his future has been in doubt since the team lost sponsorship for next season. He earned his first career Sprint Cup victory this season, at Daytona International Speedway. Other candidates for the job include David Reutimann and Brian Vickers  two drivers who drove in the Sprint Cup Series this past season but are without a ride for 2012  and Sam Hornish Jr., who has previously driven for Penske at the Sprint Cup level.(FoxSports)(12-4-2011)
UPDATE Penske Racing announced today that it has reached a mutual agreement with driver Kurt Busch to end its driver/race team relationship, effective immediately. The team will evaluate its options for the driver of the #22 Sprint Cup Series car in the future while Busch will seek new opportunities with another race team. "I appreciate the victories that Kurt has brought Penske Racing and our sponsors over the past six years," said Roger Penske. "While I am disappointed that Kurt will not be racing for our team in the future, both Kurt and I felt that separating at this time was best for all parties, including our team and sponsors. I wish Kurt the best in his future racing endeavors."
"I am grateful to Penske Racing for six very productive years," said Busch. "Together we won a lot of races -16 in all. Leaving a great organization and a lucrative contract is not easy, but it's an important step for me and allows me to take a deep breath to work on things that can make me a better driver and a better person. I want to personally thank Roger Penske for the opportunity that he has given me."(Penske Racing)
AND been told Ragan has been released by Roush Fenway Racing and Ford to pursue other oppurtunities. Supposedly he was in line to run the #51 Chevy in 2012, but now hearing he will sign a one-year deal to run the #22 Dodge for Penske.(12-5-2011)
AND III: Penske was out of the country and unavailable to comment directly. But Bud Denker, a senior vice president for Penske Corporation, said the split was best for all parties. "Kurt had some concern with our performance,'' Denker told ESPN.com. "Obviously, we had concerns with his on and off the track behavior. We agreed to take the high road for both of us. We agreed that separating at this time was best for all parties, including Kurt and the sponsors.'' Denker would not comment on whether Penske Racing had to meet any financial obligations to Busch, who had several years left on his contract. But he said "we have no further obligations, financially or contractually.'' Denker said while Shell Pennzoil was consulted in the decision, "it was ultimately our decision.'' "It's important for people to understand the nature of what we've done,'' Denker said. "It's a mutual separation. Kurt came to the conclusion and we have as well that it's time to move on. Kurt has been a terrific driver for us. He's a friend. We have been working with problems and issues in the past. It's well documented by everyone. As we looked at 2012 and beyond it was time to move on based on that incident at Homestead.'' Denker said it was a difficult decision, noting Busch has done a great job promoting sponsors for Penske Racing.
One of the criteria Shell Pennzoil had when it signed with Penske Racing last season was to have a championship-caliber driver. That prompted the move of Busch from the #2 Miller Lite car to the #22. Denker said Busch's replacement "may not be a championship driver right now,'' but said Shell is behind anybody they choose. He acknowledged that David Ragan, who won at Daytona in June, might be a possibility. Ragan remains under contract with Roush Fenway Racing, but he doesn't have a ride for 2012 because he lost sponsor UPS. Initial inquiries, multiple sources said, have been made. "It could be David, it could be others,'' Denker said. "We have not started that process yet"

Let the resume submissions for the #22 car begin!

If Penske hires David Ragan, I am going to scream so loud, that the forums will break.

RandomClassic wrote:

vbooy57 wrote:

He acknowledged that David Ragan, who won at Daytona in June, might be a possibility.

I just ROFLED all over the place.

Anyway, Jayski is ponified with my ponify program. This is what a part of the Kurt Busch story says.

"I am grateful to Penske Racing for six very productive years," said Busch. "Together we won a lot of races -16 in all. Leaving a great organization and a lucrative contract is not easy, but it's an important step for me and allows me to take a deep breath to work on things that can make me a better driver and a better pony. I want to personally thank Roger Penske for the opportunity that he has given me."

Eric J Floppyfish wrote:

RandomClassic wrote:

vbooy57 wrote:

He acknowledged that David Ragan, who won at Daytona in June, might be a possibility.

I just ROFLED all over the place.

Anyway, Jayski is ponified with my ponify program. This is what a part of the Kurt Busch story says.

"I am grateful to Penske Racing for six very productive years," said Busch. "Together we won a lot of races -16 in all. Leaving a great organization and a lucrative contract is not easy, but it's an important step for me and allows me to take a deep breath to work on things that can make me a better driver and a better pony. I want to personally thank Roger Penske for the opportunity that he has given me."

Yes, I'm definitely going to scream.

Ragan really isn't tooooo bad...

I like David Regan.

Nick399 wrote:

Ragan really isn't tooooo bad...

And if he races Toyotas he would be on your hate list. He is terrible. He should have never have been moved up to cup.

Eric J Floppyfish wrote:

Nick399 wrote:

Ragan really isn't tooooo bad...

And if he races Toyotas he would be on your hate list. He is terrible. He should have never have been moved up to cup.

He really isn't all that bad. He almost made the chase one year. He's bad but he really isn't OMG NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO bad.

people just jump on his hate bandwagon...

Reutimann almost made the chase one year so wh... oh right because he used to drive Toyota...

ANYWAY, I wrote this to Penske Racing, probably a waste of my time but... If it's too long and you don't feel like reading it, go down and skip to the statistics. It's the most important. It shows that Reuti can do more than Ragan whom is in top notch equipment.

I would just like to say something in regards to the possibility of David Ragan replacing Kurt Busch in the 22. Basically, I don't think Ragan is deserving of the 22 ride. What has Ragan done to deserve it? In 4 years of driving for Roush in top notch equipment, he has done virtually nothing in his Sprint Cup career. He has one win at Daytona this year. It has been proven time and time again that anybody can win a race in the two-car tango and it doesn't take much talent to do it anymore.

Brian Keselowski has expressed a whole lot of interest in this car. He has not done much in his short foray in NASCAR but has had very poor equipment and has still managed to get a top 10 in a Nationwide race. Brian also qualified at Daytona this year in a 4 year old car! I would love to say a two-brother duo back in NASCAR on the same team although I understand it is highly unlikely.

However, the driver I think is most deserving of being the replacement for this #22 car is David Reutimann. Reutimann has done surprisingly well in a Michael Waltrip Racing car with mediocre equipment. He won at Chicago last year leading over 50 laps. Thus, he did not luck in to this win like how Ragan did at Daytona this year. Reutimann also got close to winning his 3rd career victory this year at Kentucky. He finished 2nd to Kyle Busch and had he had just 2 more laps, I'm sure he would've won. He was much faster than Busch in the closing laps.

In Reutimann's 171 starts, he has 26 top 10's with 12 top 5's. He also has 2 wins and 4 poles. He has led a total of 334 laps.

In Ragan's 182 starts, he has 30 top 10's with 12 top 5's. He has 1 win and 2 poles. He has led a total of 95 laps, all this shows Reutimann really has better statistics.

Ragan is a good guy, but he's not the best driver. He has Truck or Nationwide talent, but I don't think he really deserves to be in Cup.