Working On My Redneck ™ » kurt busch

Kurt Is At It Again!

Leon — Tue, 15 May 2012 23:12:12 +0000

(WOMR file photo)

It is not even fall and the leaves are falling off of “the Busch”!

Stop me if you have heard this one before. Kurt Busch has exploded on the radio with a verbally abusive tirade, encroached on other race teams, enraged other crewmemebers, and acted like a spoiled little boy. No this is not a rerun from the entire 2011 season, this is “the new Kurt Busch”, circa 2012!

After the race at Darlington Saturday night here is what went down:

NASCAR has fined Kurt Busch, driver of the #51 car in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, $50,000 and placed him on NASCAR probation until July 25 for his actions during the May 12 race at Darlington Raceway. Kurt Busch violated Section 12-1 (Actions detrimental to stock car racing; reckless driving on pit road during the race; involved in an altercation with another competitor after the completion of the race) of the 2012 NASCAR Rule Book.

It would appear that Kurt Busch loves to donate to the NASCAR penalty funds. For the last several years NASCAR has been able to dip into Kurt’s checkbook for all of his misconducts, misdeeds, and misgivings each and every year, a lesson not yet learned. Maybe Kurt feels like he makes too much money, and wants to give back some of his salary to the sanctioning body, what do you think?

Additionally, Craig Strickler, a crew member for the #51 team, has been fined $5,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31 for violating Section 12-1 (Actions detrimental to stock car racing; interfering with a member of the broadcast media). Obviously Mr. Strickler did not learn anything from Kurt Busch’s 2011 dealing with ESPN’s reporter, Dr. Jerry Punch at Homestead!

Tony Gibson, crew chief for the #39 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team, has been placed on NASCAR probation until June 27 for violating Section 12-1 and Sections 12-4G and 9-4A (Crew chief assumes responsibility for the actions of his team members).

Andrew Rueger, a crew member for the #39 team, has been fined $5,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until June 27 for violating Section 12-1 (Actions detrimental to stock car racing; failure to comply with a directive from a NASCAR official). Both of these violations occurred post-race.

I will only refer to an article that I wrote following the news that Kurt had landed a ride with James Finch and Phoenix Racing back in December of 2011 in an article titled, Busch Lands With Phoenix Racing.

In that article I stated that this could be the beginning of Kurt’s long slide down the slippery slope to obscurity. I still have not changed my mind. There are many sayings the come to mind, regarding Kurt’s behavior. And at this point Kurt and Kyle are two peas in a pod.

Nevertheless, the sayings that come to mind are; a zebra can’t change its stripes, and the apple does not fall far from the tree!

Kurt is destined to always find himself squarely in the middle of controversy. Mostly because he is the one who stirs it up by his abusive radio rants, childish personality, and his overly aggressive behavior! the last time I checked the spelling of the word team, there are no “i’s” in that word!

Another quote that comes to mind came out of the mouth of Bill France, Jr. when he would “counsel” drivers. He would often say that, “NASCAR was bigger than me and bigger than you. NASCAR was here before me and it will definitely be here long after you are gone”!

So Kurt take some friendly advice. Loose the bad attitude, the sense of entitlement, and the abusive mouth. If you do those things you might have a shot a getting a job with a first class organization in NASCAR, this is probably your last second chance!

What are your views?

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

Kurt Busch To Furniture Row Racing in 2013?

Leon — Sat, 05 May 2012 01:40:47 +0000

(WOMR file photo)

The latest rumors from the garage area in Talladega this weekend has Furniture Row Racing’s owner, Barney Vissor, talking to Kurt Busch. The speculation is that Vissor is talking to Kurt Busch about the possibility of signing him to a contract for a second team in 2013!

Furniture Row Racing general manager Joe Garone, confirmed today that talks have taken place between the team and driver Kurt Busch, but said those conversations are not a result of dissatisfaction with the team’s current driver, Regan Smith. “I have talked to Kurt Busch,” said Garone, “but it was about a team we don’t even have yet. We are working diligently on getting a second (Sprint Cup) car for next year, and I’m trying to get my hands around some of the guys that will be available going onto 2013. I wanted to make an introduction to Kurt, and just let him know what our plans are for the future.”

Garone said he believes Smith and Busch would make good teammates, saying, “Kurt and Regan have worked well together on the superspeedways in the past. They have drafted well together and talked well back and forth. Adding a second team would be a major boost for Furniture Row Racing, and we’re all working hard to try and make that happen.”

Just as a side note, Furniture Row Racing has an alliance with Richard Childress Racing for, both chassis and for Earnhardt-Childress engines.

This could be a very interesting development, if it comes to fruition for 2013, for both Furniture Row Racing, as well as for Kurt Busch!

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

Kurt Gives KBM Their First NNS Win

Leon — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 03:41:58 +0000

(WOMR file photo)

Kyle Busch had his hands full for the last two laps of the Virginia 529 College Savings 250 at Richmond International Raceway. Notwithstanding the beating and banging that occurred between Kurt Busch and Denny Hamlin on the last lap, much like the finish of the race at Darlington years ago with Kurt and Ricky Craven, Busch beat Hamlin to the checkered flag by inches, .062 seconds! The finish of the Virginia 529 College Savings 250 imitated Kurt’s life over the last six months !

The past six months have been, to say the least, a wake up call for Busch Clan. First Kyle showed his immaturity by “stuffing” Ron Hornaday in the fence at Texas Motor Speedway. Then after the season ended, Penske Racing had all that they could take of Kurt’s “radio rants”, verbal abuse of the media, and being a cancer on the team, therefore giving Kurt his “walking papers”!

Additionally, the start to KBM’s venture into the Nationwide Series this year has been extremely rocky. It started out at Daytona, with Kyle behind the wheel finishing 18th, followed by an 11th at Phoenix, a 33rd at their hometown track of Las Vegas, a 17th at Bristol, and an 8th place at California. Then Kurt jumped behind the wheel at Texas Motor Speedway barely hanging on to a 30th place finish.

However, tonight at Richmond, KuBu was able to dominate the last half of the race passing Kevin Harvick, and leading 68 laps on his way to his fourth victory in five attempts, and most importantly Kyle Busch Motorsports initial victory in the Nationwide Series.

“This is cool,” Kyle Busch said, fumbling for words. “This is really cool.”

Also fumbling for words afterward was Hamlin, Kyle Busch’s teammate in the Sprint Cup Series. He said he probably could have moved Kurt Busch out of the way but held back because of his status as Kyle’s teammate at Joe Gibbs Racing.

Needless to say, this was one of the most exciting races this year in the Nationwide Series.

Check out the unofficial results of the Virginia 539 College Savings 250.

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

Does Phoenix Racing Have Financing To Make All The Races?

Leon — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 17:39:01 +0000

(WOMR file photo)

This week there is rumblings in the garage area that quite possibly James Finch, and his Phoenix Racing team, may not have enough dollars to compete in all the races in 2012. Finch has been known to be very frugal with “his” dollars regarding the race team. After all, it is reported that Finch is paying Kurt Busch, “the racing radio sweetheart”, approximately $3 million dollars to drive his race car this year. That is a far cry from the salary that Finch paid Landon Cassill for his services in 2011! Busch’s salary is rumored to be about six times what Finch paid Cassill for 2011!

As you can see from my Las Vegas Motor Speedway photo there is no sponsor on the race car, Phoenix Racing has been hard pressed to find sponsorship for each race this year. Finch has secured sponsorship from Hendrickcars.com for the Daytona 500 and the Phoenix race, nevertheless, for the rest of the races Finch and Kurt Busch have been sponsor-less! FYI, the Hendrick sponsor comes from the fact that Phoenix Racing and Hendrick Motorsports have an alliance. Hendrick Motorsports is where Finch/Phoenix Racing secures its chassis and race engines, therein, the Hendrickcars.com sponsorship.

When will the leaves fall off the Busch?

It will be very interesting to see if James Finch can get some sponsors on his cars shortly. What will also be interesting is to see how long that the Kurt Busch/James Finch handshake agreement holds up. On the race radios the frustration of not even coming close to contending for wins is evident in Kurt’s voice. Can the “opinionated, often very critically harsh” Kurt Busch harness his mouth and his emotions, or better yet, redirect his negativity into some kind a positive outlook? Time will tell!

I really like what James Finch said, and was quoted about the hiring of Kurt Busch as his driver earlier this year:

“We don’t have a contract, just a handshake. Kurt won’t quite, and I won’t fire him. If we have a problem, we can just fight”!

Is there the possibility that before the year’s end there might be a Busch/Finch boxing match? We know that the Busch brothers are very vocal, rude, crude, and socially unacceptable, therefore, it is only a matter of time before the leaves start to fall of the Busch! I am just sayin’…………………..

It may or may not coincide with Fall this year!

What are your views of the James Finch/Kurt Busch NASCAR marriage?

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

Dr. Punch Moves On

Leon — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:14:41 +0000

(photo courtesy Jim Fluharty, NASCAR Illustrated)

After nearly three months since Kurt Busch’s profanity-lace tirade against ESPN reporter, Dr. Jerry Punch, one would think that there still might be some hard feelings between Busch and Dr. Punch. If you think that is so, you would be very wrong!

“Kurt and I, we talked that next week and he sent me a lengthy email talking about how ashamed and embarrassed he was, and he knows that I’ve tried to be helpful, he knows he messed up. … He sent me this email and said he wanted my cell phone,” Punch said in a phone interview Monday. “I called him the night before Thanksgiving and we talked for a little while, and we went over a lot of the things, and we had some very frank conversation.

“I said, ‘Look, you’ve apologized, I’ve accepted your apology, now let’s move on. I wish you nothing but success on and off the race track next year.’”

Busch, who fell out of the season’s final race due to a mechanical failure, cursed at Punch and other ESPN personnel as he waited on ESPN to conduct a live interview outside his team hauler. As Busch waited, growing more angry, Punch decided to cancel the live interview. The incident was caught on camera by fans and spread on YouTube and other websites.

The decision to abort the interview was not an easy one.

“I know he was overwhelmingly disappointed and there were so many emotions flying around inside of him,” Punch said. “I just didn’t want to take a chance on him going on the air and embarrassing himself, his sponsor Shell, Roger Penske, people that I care a lot about. I never really even told our producer at the time because we were in the middle of covering the Chase. I just simply said, ‘This interview’s not gonna happen, it just can’t happen.’ To his credit, our producer said, ‘We respect your opinion.’”

This incident was the straw that broke the proverbial camels back. Throughout most of the 2011 race season, Busch would blister his crew via the team’s radio. Those Kurt Busch tirades were almost a weekly highlight on the various sports channels. However, the profanity laced tirade that was specifically pointed at Dr Punch, and caught on video by an amateur photographer, was the icing on the cake that caused Penske Racing to terminate the contract!

In spite of being thrust into a negative light via the Homestead event, Dr. Punch wishes Kurt Bush all the success in 2012. Additionally, Dr.Punch has moved on, and is looking forward to the 2012 Daytona 500.

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

The Apple Does Not Fall Far From The Tree!

Leon — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 11:23:59 +0000

(WOMR file photo)

Every since the, now infamous, Kyle Busch-Ron Hornaday incident at Texas Motor Speedway back in November, I have been trying to understand why the brothers Busch seem to be at the crux of almost every controversy in NASCAR these days. As their tenure in NASCAR lengthens Kyle and Kurt seem to be more entrenched into their attitude of “NASCAR entitlement”, kind of “us against the world”.

I have difficulty trying to understand Kyle’s childish behavior and negativism towards the press when he has not won a race. Yet, on his winning nights, he is Mr. Personality. To me a sure case of either, multiple personalities, Jekyll and Hyde, or more likely, “us against the world” mentality.

Likewise, I have been pondering many of the same questions in regards to Kyle’s older brother, Kurt. For most of the 2011 season, Kurt’s radio transmissions from the race have made the headlines on ESPN weekly. This year Kurt has been noted more for his “radio meltdowns” than for winning races!

However, the ultimate “meltdown” came at Homestead in the final race of the 2011 season. That profanity laced attack on ESPN’s Dr. Jerry Punch was the straw that broke the camel’s back at Penske Racing! Kurt was summarily dismissed from his very lucrative contract at Penske Racing after his tirade.

As race car drivers, the brothers Busch are extremely talented young men. Nevertheless, they both are very intolerant, impatient, arrogant, rude, crude, and socially unacceptable! Both brothers have had a very difficult time working with crew chiefs. Poor Steve Addington received a double dose of the brothers Busch, once at JGR with Kyle, and last year at Penske with Kurt. He has since resigned from Penske and is now taking on another steep challenge with Tony Stewart!

Both of the Busch brothers have had run-ins with local law enforcement agencies, as well. Back in 2005, Kurt had a brush with the law at the fall race in Phoenix on a Saturday evening. He was apparently pulled over on suspicion of driving while intoxicated and cited for reckless driving while leaving the Phoenix International Raceway. The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Deputy that pulled Kurt over stated that he was “argumentative and uncooperative”. That led to Jack Roush to immediately terminate the 2004 Sprint cup champion with two races left in the season!

Kyle’s problem occurred earlier in 2011 when he and his wife decided to take a like “joy ride” and test out the new Lexus. Ol Kylie was clocked doing 128 MPH in a 45 MPH zone! I think that might be just a little excessive, and for most drivers that would justify the police officer cuffing the driver and escorting him downtown to the “pokey”! Kyle did not suffer that consequence, however.

How can these two brothers constantly be in hot water?

I think that I have come up with a possible reason! I remember reading an article that Rebecca Gladden, a member of the NASCAR citizen’s media corp, had written back in November of 2011 titled, “The Keys to Understanding the Busch Brothers”. Ms. Gladden wrote that back in 2008 she read an article written by Raygan Swann, and therein lies some very interesting insights to the Brothers Busch.

In that article Mr. Swann explains that back in 2008 Gayle Busch, Kyle and Kurt’s mother, was to participate in the Mother’s Day festivities at Darlington Raceway, and would be introduced to the crowd with both of her sons, Kurt and Kyle.

According to the article, Mrs. Busch was concerned because the previous weekend, Kyle was involved in a crash with Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Richmond. “There will be a lot of hurt feelings this weekend, it will be very hard on me walking across the stage in front of Junior Nation,” she said, hinting at her disdain for Earnhardt Jr.’s fans.

Then, Gaye Busch continued: “I’ve always told Kurt and Kyle to keep their chins up and let it roll off their shoulders, get used to it. Sorry my boys weren’t born in the South and sorry they win.”

So ladies and gentlemen, there you have it in a nutshell as to why Kurt and Kyle act the way that they do, and the reason that they have the “us against the world” attitude! Their attitudes were well formulated by their parents! It appears that their intolerance, arrogance, and their “us against the world” attitudes were cultivated and reinforced right from the get-go at home!

Do you remember the old adage, “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree”? Well, here is proof positive that old saying is still alive, well, and neatly cultivated within the Busch Family!

What are your views regarding Kurt, Kyle, and their “us against the world” attitude?

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

The New Kyle Busch?

Leon — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:09:31 +0000

(photo courtesy Kyle Busch Motorsports)

The 2012 version of “The New Kyle Busch”

Kyle Busch has learned from the mistakes he made last season and he is ready to make a fresh go of it in 2012. Busch said during Monday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Media Tour he knows he can’t continue to display the kinds of emotional actions that led to so much controversy, and one might add, much more trouble last year. Therein lies the reason for the 2012 version of the old version of “The New Kyle Busch”!

“I’ve got fans all the time that tell me they don’t want to see me change,” Busch said. “I’ve tried to keep that, but ultimately, it’s not going to work. If you keep getting in trouble, you’re not going to be here very long. I’m trying to change something.”

Although Joe Gibbs Racing management hasn’t officially commented on Busch’s limited Nationwide Series schedule this season, which will see time spent in both a Kyle Busch Motorsports entry, as well as a JGR ride, but no truck series starts, it is speculated sponsor M&M’s also had a say in the decision. Busch insists he has support from his race team, sponsors and most importantly his family and friends that have helped him work through the situation and concentrate on moving ahead in his life both professionally and personally.

Are we ready for the Busch brothers teamed together?

Ol Kylie will team with his brother “Potty Mouth” Kurt at KBM this year in the Nationwide Series. “I was feeling pretty good about our ownership chances in Nationwide, that’s going to be hard to beat,” J.D. Gibbs said about the Busch brothers pairing.” Joe Gibbs said he wasn’t in the discussions of Kyle racing for his own team. “I will say that I was not in that meeting or we would not be doing this,” Gibbs said. “These two (Busch and J.D. Gibbs) got together and somehow we are now racing against him.”

As for the day when KBM might be elevated to a Sprint Cup operation, Busch sees it down the road because of all the current complications associated with such a move. “That’s obviously something I look forward to doing,” Busch said. “The Cup side is kind of difficult just due to the constrictions that NASCAR puts on all of us with me driving for Joe Gibbs Racing. Essentially I could have one team, but if JGR ever went to four teams I would have to shut mine down so that makes it tough.”

As long as ol Kylie drives for JGR, or for that matter any Sprint Cup team, bringing KBM to the Sprint Cup level would count against his owner towards the maximum of four race teams. Thereby, complicating the issue of elevating KBM to the Sprint Cup level while still driving for another race team.

Backed themselves into a corner

So for you die-hard Kylie fans who love “the bad boy image” of Kyle Busch, think about what just happened to his role model, big brother Kurt! Big brother was summarily fired from his second race team! Kurt did find employment with Phoenix Racing for 2012, not exactly a Roush-Fenway Racing or a Penske Racing caliber team.

It is my opinion that the Busch brothers are very edgy with their “us against the world”mentality. That attitude has caused both brothers some problems with their car owners and sponsors. Witness what happened to Kurt at the end of 2011, proof positive of the Busch attitude being problematic! Additionally, the JGR/M&M’s difficulty, M&M’s removing sponsorship from Kyle for the last two races of 2011, only goes to fortify the thought that “the bad boy” image can only go so far before that attitude categorizes you as a persona non grata in the sport!

What are your thoughts on the teaming of the Busch brothers at Kyle Busch Motorsports?

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

KBM Announces Their 2012 Schedule

Leon — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:05:00 +0000

(photo courtesy KBM)

Kyle Busch Motorsports announced that it has signed a multi-year agreement with Monster Energy Company as primary sponsor of the team’s #54 Monster Energy Camry in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Team owner Kyle Busch, the all-time race winning driver in the history of the NASCAR Nationwide Series, will share driving duties with his brother Kurt Busch, the 2004 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion. Kyle will drive the season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway and the subsequent four races through California before splitting the balance of the season with Kurt.

The team’s goal will be to capture an Owner’s Championship in its inaugural race season, similar to the Owner’s Championship accomplished by KBM in its first full season in the Camping World Truck Series in 2010. The development of this duo as teammates fits perfectly for primary team sponsor Monster Energy, who forgoes traditional forms of advertising and instead seeks brand exposure through the use of Extreme Athletes. With Monster Energy looking for increased presence across the NASCAR fan base, the company identified the Busch brothers as the drivers that best fit its family of Monster Energy Team Athletes.

To complement the driver lineup, and ensure a strong competitive advantage, KBM brings industry veteran and winning crew chief Mike Beam into the fold as the #54 Monster Energy Camry team leader. Beam is a long-time fixture in NASCAR who has accomplished career victories across all three major touring series. At an early age, Mike became a successful contributor towards a variety of competitive racing organizations including Petty Enterprises and Roush Fenway Racing.

This announcement is very interesting! With the new KBM entry into the Nationwide Series, it will combine the efforts of two of the most polarizing, and talented young race car drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup garage. However, both brothers exhibit a very volatile, unfettered, and at times extremely unfocused attention span!

In light of this past season’s peculiarities, when both brothers ran afoul with the media, their sponsors, and at times with their car owners, it is worth keeping an eye out for just where these two brothers lead this race team! KBM could possibly take the Nationwide Series by storm, just as was the case when KyBu entered into the Camping World Truck Series just a few short years ago.

What are your views on KBM’s entry into the Nationwide Series?

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

Phoenix Racing Announces Nationwide Schedule

Leon — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:18:49 +0000

Kurt Busch's new Sprint Cup ride

(WOMR file photo)

Phoenix Racing announced Monday that, in addition to running the complete NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule with Kurt Busch, they will field the #1 Chevrolet in a limited amount of NASCAR Nationwide Series races. The first of the those Nationwide races will begin with the NNS race at Daytona in February. Phoenix Racing is planning to run all the major NNS races, and are actively seeking sponsorship to that end.

“Everyone at Phoenix Racing is excited about competing on the Nationwide circuit this year,” said Steve Barkdoll, General Manager of Phoenix Racing. “Our Nationwide Series team is a proven, winning organization and we’re looking forward to Busch continuing the tradition. This is a great opportunity for a company to partner with a top-notch program.”

With this latest announcement, it is now known that KuBu will be in the driver’s seat of Phoenix Racing’s Sprint Cup car, as well as in the Nationwide Series car with James Finch, as well. Therefore, the rumor of KuBu driving a Kyle Busch Motorsports Nationwide car is now moot.

It will be very interesting to see how long this new driver/owner relationship will endure! Can KuBu control his radio tirades? Will KuBu be able to keep his razor-sharp tongue zipped this year? Hmmmmmmmm…….

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

Kurt Busch Lands With Phoenix Racing

Leon — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 16:21:13 +0000

(photo courtesy Alam Marler)

It was revealed that Kurt Busch and James Finch have struck a deal that allows Kurt to become the driver of the #51 Phoenix Racing Chevy in 2012!

“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, the 2004 Cup title and the 2011 Budweiser Shootout. “We’re going to run the full schedule together, and we’re going to have fun doing it.

“It’s going to be old-school racing, where we show up, race hard and go for the win. And if we don’t win, we’ll go back to the shop, work hard and do it all over again next week. That’s the way we all started racing, and it’s great to get back to that.”

James Finch, owner of Phoenix Racing, completed 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 Superspeedway.

There also seems to be some talk in the hub of NASCAR racing, Charlotte, that Kurt may also be lining himself up to run some races for his brother’s Nationwide team, Kyle Busch Motorsports in 2012, as well.

“All we want to do is win,” Finch said. “Winning is why I’ve been in racing for as long as I have, but NASCAR is a very competitive sport, and winning – especially at the Sprint Cup level – is hard. But now with Kurt Busch as our driver, we have a shot to win every week. He’s a past champion and he’s proven he can win everywhere. Our sponsors are looking forward to Kurt representing their brands.”

Phoenix gets its engines and chassis from Hendrick Motorsports.

“We have excellent equipment and a hard-working group of guys who want that trophy at the end of every race. Kurt’s the guy who can deliver it to them,” Finch said.

It is quite interesting that James Finch offered KuBu a job driving for his race team. When the story broke that KuBu had been “fired” from Penske, Finch was quoted in saying that “he would not pay Busch to drive his car and listen to his s**t”!

Well, I guess that Finch has changed his tune! He is going to pay Kurt to drive his car. Likewise, and this we all know this to be true, it is going to be a miracle if Kurt can keep his sharp tongued, cynical, and sarcastic opinions to himself! So if all the prior logic falls into place, it would appear that Finch will be listening to KuBu’s s**t!

Nevertheless, it is going to be very interesting to see what kind of primary sponsorship that Phoenix Racing can arrange. For most of Finch’s Sprint Cup races, his car is self sponsored, that is the Phoenix Construction Company.

Therefore, unless Finch secures some major sponsorship, Busch will be driving for a marginally underfunded race team, i.e., a second tier race team. His chances of winning races in 2012 will be very slim, again, unless Finch secures some big dollar sponsors.

Do you think that James Finch can do what neither Jack Rousch nor Roger Penske could not do? So far neither classy car owners were not able harness, and re-focus, all of Kurt Busch’s talent and energy, and redirect it positively!

Could this be the beginning of Kurt Busch’s slide down the long slippery slope to obscurity?

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!