Addington leaves Penske, Busch

After a couple of seasons atop the pit box for Penske Racing’s No. 22 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team with driver Kurt Busch, Steve Addington has parted ways with the organization. After a two year stint working as crew chief for Busch’s brother, Kyle Busch, and the No. 18 Sprint Cup team at Joe Gibbs Racing, Addington joined Penske Racing prior to the start of the 2010 season.

“Steve Addington is no longer with our organization,” Penske Racing President Tim Cindric said in a statement. “We appreciate the successes we experienced together and wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

While working at Penske, Addington led the former No. 2 team, renumbered 22 prior to the start of the 2011 season, and Kurt Busch to four wins and berths in the Chase for the Sprint Cup both of his seasons with the organization. The No. 22 drove into victory lane twice in 2011.

Speculation around the NASCAR garage has Addington possibly going to Stewart-Haas Racing to work as crew chief on the No. 14 team of recently-crowned, three-time Sprint Cup Series champion driver and team owner, Tony Stewart.

Darian Grubb, Stewart’s crew chief at Stewart-Haas since the owner/driver ventured into NASCAR team ownership, confirmed on Sunday that he would not be crew chief for Stewart in 2012, according to a report from the Associated Press.

No official announcement has yet been made by Stewart-Haas Racing.

Addington and Busch’s working relationship had seemed publicly strained throughout the 2011 race season, witch Busch often criticizing calls made by Addington and the performance of his race cars and race team through in-race radio communications.

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Photo of Steve Addington (left) and Kurt Busch (right) courtesy of NASCAR Media