Kurt Busch out at Penske Racing
According to the Charlotte Observer’s website on Sunday night, Kurt Busch has been fired from Penske Racing. At the time of the report, there was no official report of Busch’s release, but the Observer story claimed having numerous sources.
Busch had a tumultuous 2011 season that included behavior that came to ahead during the Sprint Cup season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November with him being caught on camera “flipping off” someone as he drove his car to the garage early in the race following a transmission failure. Later the same day, Busch went on a tirade, directed at ESPN reporter, Dr. Jerry Punch. A few days after the Homestead incidents, NASCAR fined Busch $50,000. Throughout the season, Busch could be heard over in-race radio communications berating his No. 22 Penske Racing crew. Busch made the 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup, but late season performance issues resulted in the driver dropping outside the top-10 and finishing out the season 11th in points. But Busch’s release is said to be due to his behavior issues, not on-track performance. Busch’s crew chief in 2011, Steve Addington, left the team soon after the end of the season. An official announcement from Penske Racing is expected on Monday. Busch is, reportedly, going through and anger management program, according to a recent story from the Associated Press. Busch became Cup champion while driving for Roush Fenway Racing in 2004, but was fired from that organization before the end of the following season when he was cited for criminal recklessness in Arizona. As a result of that incident, team owner Jack Roush parked Busch for the final two races of 2005 and fired the driver at the end of the season. Busch joined Penske Racing at the beginning of the 2006 season.
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Photo of Kurt Busch (right) with crew chief Steve Addington courtesy of NASCAR Media
