Kurt Busch Seeing Psychologist "To Become Better Person"

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NASCAR's Kurt Busch seeing sports psychologist

By JENNA FRYER, AP Auto Racing Writer 1 hour ago

LAS VEGAS (AP) Kurt Busch, fined $50,000 last week by NASCAR for verbally abusing a reporter, said Thursday he's seeing a sports psychologist to address what he described as "personal issues."

"I need to be a better person on the radio, to the team, as a leader," said Busch, who began working with the psychologist two months ago. "It's personal issues, of course, and working with a sports psychologist, I've gotten obviously a small grasp, but there's obviously bigger things that I need to accomplish and things can't happen overnight."

Busch's temper has long been documented, and his explosions on his in-car radio are notorious in NASCAR. He's had other incidents with media members this season, and NASCAR cited a pattern of behavior in fining him last week.

Busch was caught by his in-car camera making an obscene gesture as he drove into the garage at Homestead early in the season finale because of a transmission problem. A fan also videotaped him being verbally abusive to an ESPN reporter as he waited to be interviewed live.

The video was posted on YouTube, and both Penske Racing and sponsor Shell/Pennzoil said in statements they were disappointed by Busch's behavior.

Busch said Thursday during an industry luncheon that he was upset at Homestead when he realized he was guaranteed to finish 11th of the 12 drivers in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. The ceremony is held in Las Vegas, his hometown, and the last two drivers in the Chase field don't have a role in Friday's awards show.

Busch and younger brother Kyle finished 11th and 12th.

Busch also said he was upset when the reporter, ESPN's Dr. Jerry Punch, informed him a part of his transmission had sailed into champion Tony Stewart's car.

"He was the first to tell me that news, and the flash that went through my mind just before that was I'm going to finish 11th 11th is the first loser when you come to Las Vegas," Busch said. "Then I realize my car is taking away a shot at Tony's championship."

Stewart recovered from the damage to win the race and win his third championship.

Busch has had a rough month to end his season. He ran out of gas at Texas, while leading at Phoenix, and had the transmission problem at Homestead. Crew chief Steve Addington also quit two days after the season ended to take the same job next season with Stewart.

Now, Busch is looking for his third crew chief in four years and wants someone within Penske Racing to be promoted into the position. He cited the chemistry between teammate Brad Keselowski and crew chief Paul Wolfe, who was promoted from the Nationwide Series. Penske signed both Keselowski and Wolfe to contract extensions Thursday.

But he indicated the new crew chief will have a challenge in controlling the driver. He also said making progress on his personal growth is a priority.

"You can work 364 days on being positive and building toward a better platform, and it can take just one day to knock it all back," he said. "I need to harness what happens in the race car and keep it there, and then I need to step out of the car and understand that if we didn't reach our goal for that day or that moment, that it's going to be alright at the end."

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.

Hope he brings lottttttts of nickels.

lol

Damn! The OBBAMA didn't get paid a dime for those scripted responses. Upon further examination, whomever it may have been who scripted the words for the elder Busch did a terrible job so they really need the OBBAMA involved. I do find some satisfaction in knowing that the banquet is in the home town of the Busch disasters and neither will be on stage. That is somehow just desserts I think.

I wish him luck, hope he gets to the bottom of whatever the issue is and can calm down. He gonna work his way to a early heart attack if he don't. Good luck Kurt!

The "bottom" of his issues:

1. Brat

2. His younger brother is better than he is

3. Brat

4. His younger brother wins more races than he does

5. Brat

6. His younger brother gets more attention

7. Brat

8. etc

its a family tradition

I mean think about all the athletes we have in sports in general who have these kinds of screwed up problems. Look at the players in the NFL. Notexactuallygood role models. (with the exception of Tebow). Take PacMan Jones. Can that guy go anywhere without getting into trouble? The NBA used to have such great role models like Larry Bird, Michael Jordan and Shaq. Now we have these idiots like Allen Iverson and Lebron James. Look at the Serena Williams flipping out at the US Open. I do blame the parents for constantly spoiling their kids and then they grow up expecting to have everything handed to them or think that because they made the big times that they can do anything and get away with anything. It is this generation thing alright.

I think what is lacking in NASCAR is that the old guard is not as active in showing the youngsters the way and how to mature. have read constantly how Bobby Allison, Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough and even Dale Earnhardt were always the guys rookies could confide in and learn. I have read stories about how Bobby Allison was the biggest help in Bill Elliott's early career as was with Dale Earnhardt. I often wonder if the old guard was around how they would deal with guys like Kyle Busch, Brad K and Kurt Busch.