Busch to the 51

[David24]

I have a feeling Busch in this 51 car is going to rack up some wins.

 

[burtonbraves]

I have a feeling Busch in this 51 car is going to rack up some wins.

I agree with that.

 

[Markfan]

It is a little ironic. Brad Keselowski is now in Kurt's ride, while Kurt Busch is in the ride that Brad had only two years ago.

 

[HMAC80]

Stewart-Haas situation developing ? You mean Busch going there? If so, I dont think its even an option Tony would consider.

No, no, no. I meant the situation arising where an aging veteran joins with an underfunded team and finds success. That "Stewart-Haas" situation.

 

[K.Chuck]

No, no, no. I meant the situation arising where an aging veteran joins with an underfunded team and finds success. That "Stewart-Haas" situation.

I understand now. lol thanks

 

[super39fan]

Something I noticed during the course of last season is how poor the 51 pit crew is. I watched Cassill on Sprint Cup mobile throughout the season and he loses positions on pit road almost every time. One incidence I remember quite clearly, he came in 13th and exited somewhere in the lower 20s. I hope this won't be a next problem next year.

 

[labontefanboy]

^If this is true, then Busch won't last half the season before being fired. He treats his crew like crap, just like his brother.

 

[4WideRacing]

^If this is true, then Busch won't last half the season before being fired. He treats his crew like crap, just like his brother.

I would think that Kurt is much worse to his crew, especially the crew chief.

 

[Mo Neenja31]

Would rather see Busch in RPM's third car (the #19) but whatever...

Now Kurt Busch in a Chevy is going to be mad weird, something makes me hope that Finch will return to Dodge like the old days...

 

[DannyM]

I like Finch, but it"s the same old Kurt Busch..Nothing will be good enough for big bad Kurt!

 

[B.McKeever]

Why does RPM # 19 keep being brought up? Has there been any mention of running the # 19 at all? I see them using the # 44 before using the # 19.

 

[4WideRacing]

Why does RPM # 19 keep being brought up? Has there been any mention of running the # 19 at all? I see them using the # 44 before using the # 19.

Not that I know of, they did say they are planning on two cars so I don't know why a third car keeps getting brought up. Since the team is more of a Petty team than an Everham team I would see them using the #44 if/when they get another car number.

 

[4WideRacing]

Finch Talks About Hiring Kurt Busch: Phoenix Racing made a big hire on Wednesday night as team owner James Finch reached an agreement with 2004 NASCAR champion Kurt Busch. Busch agreed to drive the #51 car for Phoenix Racing in the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide series. Busch has had his share of embarrassments in the last few months, getting into a heated argument with a reporter, amongst other things. That led to his departure from Penske racing, and the opening for him to sign with Phoenix. After a few weeks of talks, and a meeting in Charlotte Wednesday, Finch and Busch agreed to a deal. Now Phoenix Racing has a cup champion, and a chase driver behind the wheel. Finch says has already talked with Busch about his past. "He lost a job and he's lost several million dollars, and so I think that's been a wake up call. I told him, I said Kurt it's about winning racing. you need to watch your temper and your mouth," Finch said. "I hired him for his foot and not his mouth. hopefully we can get him controlled. He's got a long way to come. He's got to show people he's going to be a driver. And show NASCAR that he's a driver, and he's going to do what's expected as a driver."(more at WJHG.com.(12-27-2011)

Sprint Cup and Nationwide in the #51 for Finch? I didn't think Finch used the #51 in Nationwide. I wonder what this means for KBM.

 

[B.McKeever]

With Kyle not running Nationwide or Truck races (planned, at least) I wonder what the future of KBM in Nationwide is, anyway. He's had some bad luck with KBM since it's inception. Hopefully he can pull SOMETHING together. I think the Busch brothers ran a # 4 in Legends cars. Maybe that?

 

[TJBartel]

Why does RPM # 19 keep being brought up? .

Because people live in a fantasy land. The 43 isn't sponsored so a third team of ANY number is out of the question.

 

[Carl Robinson]

I still think Kurt competing in cup after all this is a bad move on his part. Im sure he could with ease have walked into a nationwide or truck shop and landed in a great ride and be a threat for the championship no two ways about it, but with he going to the 51 a 3rd tier sattelite team of hendrick.I think there will be more performance issues for Kurt to be upset about. Also a little insight to the RPM issues. Best Buy while being a primary was not the 43's ONLY sponsor Im sure AirForce,Valvoline,Nautica,Medallion, heck even stanley will step up to continue to be involved with the petty name (stp maybe?) and If they where to launch a third team for what reason I dont know Petty would bring back the 44.

 

[Sgt Slaughter]

I don't think Petty should make a 3rd team just for a driver. When they have the performance and finances to make the 3rd team, then goes right ahead. I don't want another 2010 Evernham situation again. BTW, Busch should do just fine in the 51, unless his f-bomb temper tantrums get in his way again.

 

[Carl Robinson]

I don't think Petty should make a 3rd team just for a driver. When they have the performance and finances to make the 3rd team, then goes right ahead. I don't want another 2010 Evernham situation again. BTW, Busch should do just fine in the 51, unless his f-bomb temper tantrums get in his way again.

Not sure how it was an evernhamn situation since by 2010 Ray had nothing to do with the team he founded and Allowed his business partner to kill. That was more about George not telling everyone how much money they really had.

I think with Busch being in the 51 the team will get "Fresher" equipment like they did in 09 when brad was driving for him and hendrick. Regardless its not going to be amazing stuff like he had before.

On the topic of RPM though and nascar sponsorship in general well just nascar in general. It somewhat sickens me to see a single team have 8 top dollar sponsors when others are merging selling and firing just to make up for the lost income.

Also the 15 has sponsorship for 24 races...who is picking up the other 12?

 

[B.McKeever]

^ Agree with you 100%. Makes you wonder about the # 15 team. Will they attempt to fund it out of MWR's money. That will only last until Michael runs out of money, then Bowyer is kicked to the curb. Don't think MWR is above it. Ryan Truex in the # 99, Trevor Bayne in the # 99, Reutimann in the # 00. MWR has a habit of just kicking drivers b/c they attempt to fund it themselves with failure. I know Reutimann was a sponsor issue, but they still broke his contract.

I really hope the # 15 picks up sponsorship. Maybe Michael can coax 5 Hour Energy like he did Aarons in 2010 with Reutimann.

 

[Markfan]

McKeever, if your team was going to put yourself in debt and force it to close if you ran a sponsorless car, what would you do if your driver could not pick any companies up?

The odds are high that the driver running in the sponsorless car would be out of a job for a much more inconveniencing reason than just being let go.