IowaDeerHunter Posted August 9, 2005 Report Share Posted August 9, 2005 Just seen this at Nascar.com. I never knew he even planned on leaving? CONCORD, N.C. -- Roush Racing announced Tuesday that Kurt Busch has advised team officials that he has signed with another team commencing in 2007. The name of the team is not known. Busch also requested a release from his contract for 2006. Due to sponsor and team considerations, Roush Racing said no decision on that request will be made for an indefinite period. The defending Nextel Cup champion, Busch currently is fifth in points, 277 behind leader Tony Stewart. Busch has 13 career Cup victories in 171 starts, with 41 top-five finishes and 72 top-10s. After running a full Truck Series schedule in 2000 and finishing second in points, Busch made the full-time jump to Cup in 2001. He won his first race March 24, 2002, at Bristol. Roush Racing, which recently announced it had signed Jamie McMurray for 2007, also has Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards in its Cup stable. However, Kenseth was upset after the McMurray announcement -- not so much that McMurray was joining the team, but rather in the way news leaked of the signing. "I just felt like being [at Roush] for eight years that they'd at least have talked to me. And [Greg] Biffle, too. He's been there seven years," Kenseth said. "So I figured they'd at least have talked to some of the guys who've been there about who you want for a teammate. "I think it happened fairly fast, and on the 42 side they leaked it to the press. So I'm sure they were probably going to talk to us before they made an announcement, but to this day nobody's still talked to me about it. So it is a little frustrating." Jimmy Fenning, crew chief for the No. 97 Ford, said earlier this year that he is looking to retire after 2006. The longtime Roush employee has enjoyed a brilliant career, including a Daytona 500 win in 1988 and the title with Busch in 2004. "Probably a couple more years and that will be it for me," Fennig said in February. Fennig, 51, cited the exhausting 36-race schedule -- plus testing and non-official events -- as the reason for wanting to slow down. "I would like to be home once in awhile," Fennig said. "Being away from home all these years, you got to sit back and say, 'Time to cut back.' " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hillbilly Posted August 9, 2005 Report Share Posted August 9, 2005 Re: busch is leaving Rousch!!! Watch him race side by side with his younger brother with Hendricks! CASEY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IowaDeerHunter Posted August 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 9, 2005 Re: busch is leaving Rousch!!! You think that is where he will end up? Anyone have any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hillbilly Posted August 9, 2005 Report Share Posted August 9, 2005 Re: busch is leaving Rousch!!! I couldn't see that happen though. I know JJ and Gordon don't like him, but it might help Hendricks out more. I don't like Kurt, but he knows how to handle and drive a car. CASEY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IowaDeerHunter Posted August 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 9, 2005 Re: busch is leaving Rousch!!! I can't believe he is leaving after having a good season this year and winning the championship last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hillbilly Posted August 9, 2005 Report Share Posted August 9, 2005 Re: busch is leaving Rousch!!! maybe he feels uncomfortable... might looking for a new home in the Nextel Racing. My father always told me "if you don't feel comfortable in a situation/job change it up a little". CASEY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest psejake16 Posted August 9, 2005 Report Share Posted August 9, 2005 Re: busch is leaving Rousch!!! Just saw it on espnnews. Kurts been my driver since he was racing in the Truck series. I hope he stays with Ford. I just couldnt watch him race for Hendrick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Posted August 9, 2005 Report Share Posted August 9, 2005 Re: busch is leaving Rousch!!! As long as he stays AWAY from DEI!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hillbilly Posted August 9, 2005 Report Share Posted August 9, 2005 Re: busch is leaving Rousch!!! Go Hendricks!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texastrophies Posted August 9, 2005 Report Share Posted August 9, 2005 Re: busch is leaving Rousch!!! Busch leaving Roush, joining Penske stable NASCAR.COM August 9, 2005 02:24 PM EDT (18:24 GMT) CONCORD, N.C. -- Defending Nextel Cup champion Kurt Busch has signed to drive for Roger Penske, starting in 2007. Roush Racing announced Tuesday that Busch advised team officials that he has signed with another team commencing in 2007. Busch also requested a release from his contract for 2006. However, due to sponsor and team considerations, Roush Racing said no decision on that request will be made for an indefinite period. Inside the Numbers Kurt Busch's career Cup stats Year Races W T-5 T-10 2000 7 0 0 0 2001 35 0 3 6 2002 36 4 12 20 2003 24 4 9 14 2004 36 3 10 21 2005 21 2 7 11 Totals 171 13 41 72 The 2004 ChampKurt Busch says he is living a dream racing Nextel Cup TrackPass VideoCatch all the highlights from Kurt Busch's Cup career Sign up for TrackPass nowBUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE Penske Racing South released a statement later Tuesday to say it has signed Busch to a multi-year contract. Rusty Wallace, driver of the No. 2 Dodge, is retiring after the 2006 season and speculation had been rampant in recent months over who would replace him. Penske's other drivers are Ryan Newman and rookie Travis Kvapil. The 1989 Cup champion, Wallace is fourth in the point standings, 218 behind leader Tony Stewart. Busch is fifth in points, 277 behind Stewart. Busch, who turned 27 last week, was the third-youngest champion in NASCAR history when he won the title last season. Busch has 13 career Cup victories in 171 starts, with 41 top-five finishes and 72 top-10s. After running a full Truck Series schedule in 2000 and finishing second in points, Busch made the full-time jump to Cup in 2001. He won his first race March 24, 2002, at Bristol. Roush Racing, which recently announced it had signed Jamie McMurray for 2007, also has Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards in its Cup stable. However, Kenseth was upset after the McMurray announcement -- not so much that McMurray was joining the team, but rather in the way news leaked of the signing. "I just felt like being [at Roush] for eight years that they'd at least have talked to me. And [Greg] Biffle, too. He's been there seven years," Kenseth said. "So I figured they'd at least have talked to some of the guys who've been there about who you want for a teammate. "I think it happened fairly fast, and on the 42 side they leaked it to the press. So I'm sure they were probably going to talk to us before they made an announcement, but to this day nobody's still talked to me about it. So it is a little frustrating." SILLY SEASON Keep up with who's in, who's out with our Silly Season tracker. • Complete story, click here Jimmy Fennig, crew chief for the No. 97 Ford, said earlier this year that he is looking to retire after 2006. The longtime Roush employee has enjoyed a brilliant career, including a Daytona 500 win in 1988 and the title with Busch in 2004. "Probably a couple more years and that will be it for me," Fennig said in February. Fennig, 51, cited the exhausting 36-race schedule -- plus testing and non-official events -- as the reason for wanting to slow down. "I would like to be home once in awhile," Fennig said. "Being away from home all these years, you got to sit back and say, 'Time to cut back.' " Busch has a history of feuds with rival drivers -- Jimmy Spencer punched him in the nose in 2003 -- and run-ins with NASCAR officials. Earlier this year, after a tantrum at Darlington that included expletives directed at NASCAR officials over his in-car radio, Busch was placed on unofficial probation and given notice that the sanctioning body would not tolerate more bad behavior. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VABuckSlayer Posted August 9, 2005 Report Share Posted August 9, 2005 Re: busch is leaving Rousch!!! That would have been my guess! I don't know what to do now. I'm a loyal Penske follower but I don't care much for Busch. I'm a big Rusty fan and hate to see him leave the 2 car. Not sure I can handle seeing Kurt in the 2. That will be way too different for me! Eric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James7xChamp3 Posted August 9, 2005 Report Share Posted August 9, 2005 Re: busch is leaving Rousch!!! Glad I'm not a huge Penske fan. I've always been a fan of Rusty, and he is irreplaceable. I'd hate to have to root for KB. My girlfriend is going to flip when she sees this. She's a big Newman fan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper Posted August 9, 2005 Report Share Posted August 9, 2005 Re: busch is leaving Rousch!!! Was just coming here to post the same thing...guess I'm a little late. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IowaDeerHunter Posted August 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 9, 2005 Re: busch is leaving Rousch!!! [ QUOTE ] As long as he stays AWAY from DEI!!!! [/ QUOTE ] LOL! you got that right. Could you see Dale Jr. and busch together! a no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tedicast Posted August 9, 2005 Report Share Posted August 9, 2005 Re: busch is leaving Rousch!!! My thought on Kurt Busch are this. Love him or hate him. the kid can flat out drive a race car. He will probably do good at Penske. I don't see this change helping the #2 and #12 teams become closer though. Whoever got him, it would have been a good catch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrud Posted August 10, 2005 Report Share Posted August 10, 2005 Re: busch is leaving Rousch!!! I wouldn't have minded him at DEI. He'd be an INSTANT star and fan favorite. I think there are a lot more deeper problems at Roush than what meets the eye. Kenseth and Biffle are mad about the McMurry signing. Busch leaves OUT OF NOWHERE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dg Posted August 10, 2005 Report Share Posted August 10, 2005 Re: busch is leaving Rousch!!! [ QUOTE ] My thought on Kurt Busch are this. Love him or hate him. the kid can flat out drive a race car. /quote] You got that right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slugshooter Posted August 10, 2005 Report Share Posted August 10, 2005 Re: busch is leaving Rousch!!! I definitely did not ever expect to see this one. What I don't get is what are all these guys signing contracts where they won't switch until 2007. It's like being a lame duck politician, what drive will he have to do good next year when he knows he's going somewhere else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTF Posted August 10, 2005 Report Share Posted August 10, 2005 Re: busch is leaving Rousch!!! The # 2 would have been my first guess. Looks like Roush racing may fall apart for 2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdvantageTimberLou Posted August 10, 2005 Report Share Posted August 10, 2005 Re: busch is leaving Rousch!!! Somethings up at Roush, drivers are not getting along with the cat in the hat. I see Kenseth leaving as well and I see him in the #15 DEI possibly. That would be a great combination. Matt is a Jr. buddy. I would like to see Matt in a Chevy!! As for Kurt, I never seen this one coming and that is why I think behind the scenes at Roush maybe things aren't that great. Maybe its money and Kurt feeling short changed from Jack! Going to be an interesting off season!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTF Posted August 12, 2005 Report Share Posted August 12, 2005 Re: busch is leaving Rousch!!! I think it all started when Carl Edwards came in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tedicast Posted August 12, 2005 Report Share Posted August 12, 2005 Re: busch is leaving Rousch!!! I read an article yesterday that wassaying that Jack Rousch controls all his drivers souveniers sales, and personal contracts. It went on to say that with Busch going to Penske, and having control of these things himself would be worth around another 2 million dollars a year to him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTF Posted August 13, 2005 Report Share Posted August 13, 2005 Re: busch is leaving Rousch!!! I just got word that Roush will not release Bush for 2006. He is enforcing the contract and Bush aint too happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tedicast Posted August 13, 2005 Report Share Posted August 13, 2005 Re: busch is leaving Rousch!!! I can see JR's side of this. A contract is a contract. But honestly, wouldn't you rather have someone in the car that really wants to be there, rather than someone who is there against their wishes? Just seems it would be better for the whole team if JR were to let Busch, or Penske buy out the remainder of his contract. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTF Posted August 14, 2005 Report Share Posted August 14, 2005 Re: busch is leaving Rousch!!! [ QUOTE ] Just seems it would be better for the whole team if JR were to let Busch, or Penske buy out the remainder of his contract. [/ QUOTE ] I would let Bush go and give Ward Burton a call. Then I would let Mark Martin Retire and ask Waltrip to drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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