Kurt Busch

Just going to preface here by saying that this is a "vent" of sorts...so be prepared.

In the last three weeks or so, this forum has been overwhelmingly dominated by Kurt Busch bashing. I was going to call it talk...or discussion. But I figure- why beat around the bush (no pun intended?) I have held off from voicing my opinion, but I feel like now is the proper time to speak my peace on it.

First of all, I grew up as a Richard Petty fan during the early 1980s. Being from Georgia, I couldn't help but change my allegiance as a 9 year old back in 1985 when Awesome Bill From Dawsonville obliterated the record books, and managed to win the hearts of scores and scores of fans. After giving Bill my complete and undying support for nearly 20 years, when he decided to cut back after 2003, I was forced to find a "new" driver to support. I picked Kurt Busch.

Why? I thought Kurt was a hard-nosed racer, didn't take crap from drivers like Jimmy Spencer (who I detest), and I always liked the #97 Sharpie Ford. And then Kurt went and did the wrong thing at Michigan with Spencer by deliberately cutting his tire down and suffered the consequences of his constant berating. Like him or not, I said at the time Kurt was in the wrong for carrying the war of words with him on for as long as he did. Then he eventually got mixed up with Kevin Harvick, another driver I dislike. He had his meltdown with Roush at the end of 2005, but I stood by him as a fan.

Then he got on the bad side of Tony Stewart, yet another driver I dislike. I feel like Tony cost Kurt the 2006 Daytona 500 by driving on the apron and causing them both to wipe out when Kurt had the fastest car that day. Later, Kurt went on to have his meltdown at Dover after a dustup with Stewart, and nearly killed one of Stewart's pit crew. Again- I stood by Kurt, because he was my guy.

After that, I felt like Kurt eventually turned a corner. His demeanor was a lot better, and he seemed to have calmed down. After seeing Jimmie Johnson take him out on several occasions over the last couple of years (the road courses immediately come to mind), I felt like Kurt gave Jimmie what he had coming with the nudge at Pocono this summer. But then Kurt cursed out Jamie Little, a person I have a LOT of respect for because I have had the pleasure of meeting her the last 3 years at Atlanta, and then his outburst at Dr. Jerry Punch was the final straw for me as a fan.

All of this being said...let me just say that I in no way condoning any of Kurt's actions. He is paying the price for a lot of indiscretions both this year, and in his past. But the board sentiment here has also been so negative in the last three weeks, it has gotten to the point that I have been visiting the site less and less, just because I don't want to read any more Kurt-based witch hunting. I also understand that everyone is entitled to their opinion. However, I feel as though there are several people here that have taken personal shots towards the Busch family as a whole, not to mention Kurt. And while I am in no way defending Kurt, what a lot of people fail to mention is that he is in the midst of a divorce. I am almost willing to wager my two cents that has at least something to do with his outbursts. Shame on him. But I can only imagine how his personal life has affected his professional career. It is because of that that I choose NOT to judge him personally. And I also think it's unfair of people here to do it.

I have had the privilege of attending races at Atlanta from the garage and pit area the last three years. And I will say this much- Kurt Busch is NOT the most arrogant and rude person strolling that area of Hampton, Georgia on race weekend. It's Tony Stewart. Every driver I have seen down there has been cordial with the fans any time they are approached. That includes Kurt Busch. That includes Dale Earnhardt Jr., Juan Montoya, Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards, and Kurt's brother Kyle. That goes for every driver except one. And it's your current Sprint Cup Champion...who scoffs at all autograph requests, at all fan interaction on his way to somewhere. Even members of his race team thinks they can get away with the same smug attitude. During one rain delay this Labor Day at Atlanta, all of the pit areas had cleared out, and the crews were all on pit road. Me and my friend positioned ourselves at the pit wall to get a snapshot of some of the drivers huddled beside their cars...COMPLETELY out of the way of anyone working (the pitbox was EMPTY) when suddenly someone rudely yells at us that "we need to get out of their pit area...they're trying to run a race." We turn around to find the person speaking is wearing none other than an Office Depot team jacket. What's funny is we were in and out of many pit areas all day, making sure that we were nowhere near a crew member that might have a job to do...and NEVER had a crossed word said to either of us.

In closing- again...Kurt Busch has nobody to blame but himself. He has lost more out of this than any of us will ever know. But do people REALLY need to keep piling on after the fact, three weeks later? If James Finch or Front Row Motorsports or TRG want to hire him to drive their cars, they are well within their rights to do so. Does he deserve a ride? You might not think so. I might not. But to take personal shots about a driver and person that MANY of you have never met or know only what the press tells you about is pretty unfair if you ask me.

I didnt fire him-- Robbie didnt fire him and dont think Tony fired him...... He was fired not by what we have put in text here but by his car owner/sponsor... I do think he will return next season in a quality ride (maybe his own team) with a message to show his other side, that may help you feel like your driver is back

Now there are over 8500 members here on R/R..... you know why ????? because its a place where everyone has his own say as long as its G rated and is in the best interest of R/R... If you get out of the box the wrath of Kan will make your post go poof......

So rag on friend and someone will respond with your best interest at heart. In the meantime Tony will regroup,Kyle will take that green M&Ms car for the exciting continuance of his pursuit of the crown in Nascar. Oh yeah whoever you pick to be your driver next year make sure he is tested or you may be on another rollercoaster ride to Homestead Fla.

Oh yeah one other thing stay outta the way in the pits or you just may run across Dave or myself up close and personal...... See you in turn four SIR------------------------------------------------------------memories

Oh by the way I just read from a trusted girl that there could be in a joking way a thought in the air to Jimmy Spencer being Crew Chief for Kurt Busch if he can wiggle his way into that ride.. what ride???? lets see if it surfaces into reality then we can hash it out--------------------------wow, more memories

Jay,

Thanks for posting your side of things. As I have said here before..(.I think the last time may have been about some Kyle stuff.)..this is why NASCAR has been so successful. Fans will stick by their driver through the tough times. For Kurt's sake, I hope he has a lot more like you, because he lost any that may have been on the fence.

I've heard a few Kurt fans blaming the guy who shot the video for all this and have heard some show some sympathy due to his recent personal problems. But that has been about all.

I tried to get a discussion about this on the show the other night to get those who are on his side to speak out. None did. More should....all sides need to be heard in the way you explained your position as a fan.

The good thing about this sport is there have always been those who polarize the fan base. Both Busch boys do that. My personal experience...I've met both...and both were very gracious and enjoyable to talk to. Not sayin I'll never be a fan of them...but as of today I'm not. I detest the continued disrespect that has come form both of them. And yes, I AM one of those who thinks their parent are responsible for that. Having said that...as a fan, I've always made my choice by the way the driver races not necessarily by their personality. I've never considered Kurt because of the disrespect he shows his crew(s). I admit at times, I have leaned toward Kyle, but things like busting up Sams guitar...and dumping Hornaday, have shut the door every time.

I like the way you wrote this Jay. A very important perspective! I personally have been wanting to hear the side of the devoted Kurt fan. Not many are willing to speak out for fear of being piled on.

moi?

Jay, I am in 100% total agreement with one of your assertions and assessments. Having had to personally interact with Tony Stewart before he ever got in his first Busch Seriesstock car (in his USAC days), I can vouch that he is the most uncooperative ###$$$%%%&&&@@@ of a driver I was ever forced to try to interact with (and I quit trying), and trust me, I've interacted with a bunch of the best. Even Terrible Tommy Ellis was always nice in his dealings with me when he wasn't in the race car. Heck, Tommy evenkept me from getting my head split open one night! Having worked with Dale Earnhardt and the Petty family in the past - great racers with great class, there is no way I'd put up with a Tony Stewart or Kurt Busch or Kyle Busch. I don't doubt that Kurt's marital situationaffects his outlook (and maybe outbursts), but then again, if he carried the same attitude and actions into a marriage he displays with a crew, I can see why his marriage wouldn't work.

lol... I have been called worse!

He is his hero.

opinions are always welcome here..

in my opinion both kurt / kyle act like spoiled lil children .. and it seems most others share that -like it or not - maybe they need a lil reminder that they need nascar - not nascar needs them.

nascar was sucessful before them... and im sure they will be sucessful in the future either with or without them ( pending a team / owner/ sponsor that will tolerate their lil tirades )

Yes, talent wise Kurt has some strong positive points. It is hard not to remember that he has won a NASCAR Championship. What is unfortunate is that Kurt has more negative points. His fights with people. Almost killing a crew member on pit road. His big mouth. His treatment of the media. Him throwing his crew under the bus. It is no wonder he has changed teams, been through two crew chiefs and moved from the 2 to the 22 at Penske. Penske had enough of it. I can honestly look at both the Busch Brothers and think they could easily have had 2 Championships each now at this point, but their attitudes and behaviors on and off the track really hinders that. One thing with the Busch Brothers I have noticed is once you think they have straighten themselves out they do something screwy. I want to see some positive sides to the Busch's but it is really hard when they are in the headlines for more of doing negative things then positive.

As far as the dealings with the fans go, yes. I met Kyle once and he was nice. Kurt I have never met and Tony Stewart, you just be lucky to catch him on a good day.

Well the thing is with Tony. He is a racer, not really a spokesperson. I've met him before and was nice, but I met a guy once that came through the GRHOF one time that races midgets with him and knew him, he told me that he just does not like to sign autographs. He just wants to focus on racing.

Si--- !!!

Tony is a complete jerk. I watched him totally snub the president of the National MotorsportPress Assoc. for no reason and act like an ass doing it. My experiences with him had nothing to do with his being a spokesperson or autographs. Also,a very close friend of mine was Vice President, Public Relations for Home Depot. You ought to hear their opinion of working with a jerk.

Jay, I agree with very little you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. This is America and we all have that right. This is also Racers Reunion and as Jeff has said repeatedly, the Forums are OPEN to all opinions and well worded statements such as yours are to be respected. I am a very strongly opinionated person which many times gets me into trouble, but regardless of my opinions, I try to respect those which differ with mine. All it all, the differences makes it an interesting world and a very interesting website here. I hope you will NOT stop visiting but, instead, come in again and again with expressions of what you think and feel. I admit I have been very rough on both Busch boys. I do not like them, I will never like them, and I frankly don't care if they can do things with a car that even Cole Trickle can't do, they are both the bottom of the scum barrell for me. I had the greatest respect for Joe Gibbs for years and believe me it is respect from actually encountering the man on several occassions on a personal basis. However, after his handling of the Kyle Busch matter, I have lost all respect for him and the entire JGR operation. That's the way I roll. What I like, I strongly like,. what I dislike is just as intense. I like the fact you spoke your mind, I like the way you spoke it and I want more of that from you, please.

Kurt Busch has a ride when thing cool down. Its some one you would not belive.

Thanks

Harlow Reynolds---Lynchburg,Va.

Harlow, you're a tease!

I'm still hearing James Finch in Spartanburg. If I had a say in it, Kurt would sit at home for a year or two and grow up a little more. He's a jerk to put it simply.

I didn't know that Colombian Pablum had any fans in NASCAR, PK! Now, you are the one who said "nut case" - not us! Now, if our boy Spencer was still in the Target car..... Perhaps if we can negotiate a very deep discount, we could take up a collection during Tuesday night's Goat Rodeo and get you an old cut-out stand-up for a holiday gift!

For one thing he's not a southerner, he don't look like one, speak like one, or act like one. And he's not a northerner for the same description therefore, he must be an alien that has trespassed on the sacred grounds of NASCAR and he and his brother will soon be deported...he did not assimilate well into the NASCAR world, didn't learn the language or behavior. It's alright to be a hothead, just don't look and sound like an idiot when you do.

An excellent description, Jim! You are now qualified to be a Border Patrol Agent! Protecting NASCAR's borders.

As for how well he "assimilated" - I'd say he got the first three letters pretty good.

i wouldnt make a good proper border control agent..id just shoot em....or would that be gooder..lol

illegal is illegal in my book

Oh no, PK, I realize Jim is talking shrubs and brothers and what not. I'm referring to protecting our sooooouthern borders from those Vegas invaders and outsiders.

And let's hope Mr. Pablum has no brother. At least his sponsor has the good sense to paint a target on his car and driver uniform.

Looks like Harlow was on to something...

Sirius XM NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody has learned that in an effort to retain sponsor Best Buy, Richard Petty Motorsports has proposed replacing AJ Allmendinger as driver of the legendary #43 Ford with Busch. RPM struggled to re-sign Best Buy a year ago, negotiating until early January before inking a one-year contract. The electronics retailer served as major sponsor of the #43 team in 26 events this season.
Richard Petty Motorsports Chief Operating Officer Robbie Loomis confirmed today that discussions have been held regarding Busch, saying, "Best Buy has been a great partner for a long time, and AJ Allmendinger has done a fantastic job for us. He's coming off his best season yet, but I can tell you there is a lot of interest on our part in having Kurt Busch in the fold. It makes sense to have Kurt with our team, if we can make it work.
"Our main focus is to continue building on what we finished the season with last year," said Loomis. "But right now, I feel like I'm running down two different sets of train tracks. From a personal standpoint, nothing has excited me more than when I heard Kurt had become available. I'm excited about the opportunity to add a driver like Kurt Busch to Richard Petty Motorsports. I would mortgage my house to make Kurt a part of this team. We value what he has done on the race track. He has won a (Sprint Cup) championship and worked for a first-class operation like Penske Racing. Guys like that don't come along every day."
Allmendinger finished 15th in 2011 Sprint Cup Series championship points, with one Top-5 and 10 Top-10 finishes. His best finish was a fifth in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in late May. Busch won a pair of races this season at Infineon and Dover en route to 11th in points, tallying eight Top-5 and 16 Top-10 finishes.

Well, sir.....I don't guess Best Buy would consider changing its name to Worst Buy. Maybe a King can control his subjects better than some others, though. Here's wishing RPM a successful 2012.