Kurt Busch suspended for weekend tirade

[pandr]

Kurt Busch suspended for weekend tirade
Saturday outburst toward reporter also gets driver's probation extended through the end of year by NASCAR
By Jim Utter - charlotteobserver
Monday, Jun. 04, 2012

Kurt Busch's temper has cost him again.
NASCAR on Monday suspended Busch from all competition through June 13 for verbal abuse toward a media member following Saturday's Nationwide Series race at Dover (Del.) International Speedway.
Busch, the 2004 Cup series champion, will not be allowed to compete Sunday at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa., nor participate in any of the extra testing days the track is hosting this week.
NASCAR did not become aware of the incident between Busch and Sporting News reporter Bob Pockrass until Saturday night when Speed showed video of the postrace exchange between the two.
After the race on pit road, Pockrass asked Busch if being on NASCAR-imposed probation caused him to race Justin Allgaier differently than he otherwise might have. The cars of Busch and Allgaier made contact during the race and they had a verbal exchange afterward.
"It refrains me from beating the (expletive) out of you right now because you ask me stupid questions," Busch told Pockrass. "But since I'm on probation, I suppose that's improper to say, as well."
Busch had been placed on NASCAR probation May15 for his actions during the Cup race at Darlington, S.C., when he did a burnout through driver Ryan Newman's pit nearly hitting crew members and a NASCAR official.
That probation was scheduled to end July 25 but has now been extended through the end of this year.
"I accept NASCAR's decision," Busch said in a statement. "I put them in a box, they had to take action and it's my fault for putting them in this position. I apologize for the comments I made to Bob Pockrass."
Busch had run-ins with two other media members last year and was fined $50,000 for an obscenity-laced tirade against ESPN reporter Dr. Jerry Punch during the season finale at Homestead, Fla.
After that incident Busch parted ways with Penske Racing and has been driving the No.51 Chevrolet for James Finch this season in Cup as well as driving several races for a Nationwide team owned by his brother, Kyle Busch.

C/P Thats Racin

[oak]

Then there was this from yesterday.

From Jayski.


http://www.jayski.com/cupnews.htm

[#51 car owner James] Finch told ESPN.com he would meet with Busch over the next couple of days to discuss whether they would keep the handshake agreement they made before the season. He didn't sound like a man convinced the arrangement could or would work. "If he's going to kill himself, I'm not going to be in the airplane with him," Finch said by phone. "If that's what he's planning on doing, I am going to get out." Finch made it clear after Busch was released by Penske Racing following a profanity-laced tirade against ESPN's Dr. Jerry Punch at Homestead-Miami Speedway last November that if Busch embarrassed him like he did Roger Penske "he would have gotten his ass beat on pit road. He needs to simmer down a while," Finch told ESPN.com in December. "There are a lot of people that don't like Kurt. He's never done anything to me personally. He just needs to look in the mirror and see what the problem is." Now Busch has done something to Finch personally, even though the incident came while Busch was driving a Kyle Busch Motorsports Nationwide car for his little brother. Finch made it clear there are several qualified drivers to take over Phoenix Racing's #51 Chevy.

[oak]

And then this from today:

Again, from Jayski.


http://www.jayski.com/cupnews.htm

Phoenix Racing team owner James Finch said he will meet with Kurt Busch next Tuesday to discuss the embattled driver's future with the team. "We're going to meet the next week and have a come-to-Jesus meeting," Finch said Tuesday morning in an interview with SIRIUS/XM NASCAR Radio. At the time [Busch was hired by Finch], Finch said of the deal, "He (Busch) can't quit and I can't fire him." But that may be changing. "(Kurt) needs to either get his mind right or he's going to be working somewhere else," Finch told SIRIUS/XM. "... Quit wrecking cars. Be nice to people. That's not hard to do."

[TPB]

I honestly hope this is the end of the line for old "Skirt Busch" I can understand his frustration. Things haven't gone his way for a few years, but IMO he needs to get the boot. I am sure no one else will touch him and he may finally realize that he is not as great as he seems to think he is.

It's a respectable sport and business and although some altercations between drivers are entertaining, he has stooped to a whole different level. It's really too bad, the guy has talent and the ability to be a top shelf contender but his attitude really sucks.

[TPB]

c/p By Mark Aumann, NASCAR.COM

David Reutimann will drive the No. 51 Chevrolet at Pocono Raceway this week in place of suspended Kurt Busch, owner James Finch said Tuesday morning.

During an interview on SiriusXM Radio, Finch said he plans to sit down in a "come-to-Jesus" meeting to Busch to talk about the driver's future with the team.

"We've got a meeting with Kurt next week and see just what we can do about going forward," Finch said. "I think the suspension was fairly petty, but he was already on probation. The suspension was because of breaking the probation.

"He needs to learn to walk off or keep his temper or needs to do something. I know Darlington was pretty much out of the control. But I thought this weekend was pretty harsh for sending him out, but probation's probation."

According to a release from Tommy Baldwin Racing, Baldwin and Finch worked out a deal to allow Reutimann to drive the No. 51 Chevrolet for Phoenix Racing at Pocono.

That switch means Dave Blaney will drive the No. 10 Chevrolet and Tony Raines the No. 36 Chevrolet for TBR.

"I understand the position James was put in this week," Baldwin said. "As an owner of a small team, I wanted to help him out. We talked and thought that this lineup would be best for both of our teams."

Finch said Busch's temper is not the only issue that needs to be addressed. According to Finch, Busch has wrecked 14 cars in 14 races this season, including four at Daytona.

For a team running without sponsorship, Finch said "that's just a slow death."

"Kurt needs to get on track and go forward," Finch said. "I don't want to give up on the talent that Kurt has. Kurt's one of the best drivers there. He's got some problems he's got to work through, and hopefully he can do that. If he can't, then I've got to go forward.

"... Hopefully, if we can get Kurt's mind right, we can win some races. And if he can't get his mind right so we can race into the future, then I'm going to do something else."

[lonewolf]

Kurt Busch has thought he was Chirst himself for a long time and is a sore loser that acts like a 2 year old! It's to bad because he does have talent and he pretty well always comes from the back to the front of the pack when he is having a good day.
But when he has a couple probs during a race it seems everyone else's fault but his! I think if Finch drops him that will be it because no one else will touch him. Maybe in a few years he will be humbled enough to return and become a real nascar driver and not a bitchy little baby!

[pandr]

Enough with Kurt Busch! He has been in top crop lomg enough to know the do's and dont's.There are probably a bunch ofNationwide Series drivers that would give up a limb for his seat in "The Show". He had his chance and didn't make the best of it. JMO

[TPB]

I didn't have a lot of respect for Kurt but after watching this youtube documentary that a guy compiled I was really taken back with how he is with his crew on the radio. I absolutely have no respect for the guy after watching this. Its a little over an hour long but check out his radio conversations with his crew and Mr. Penske himself, it starts around the 55-56 min mark. Unbelievable....



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfaZR3ysMIA

[brotherstores]

The on track anticks of wrecking people to win is nothing new. This sports most famous driver (Dale Earnhardt) did the same thing in his earlier years. How do you think he got the nick names of "one tough customer" and "the intimidator"? Also the attitude problems on and off the track are nothing new as well. Look at Tony Stewart when he used to have his problems with NASCAR officals, camera men, etc.

Now don't get me wrong, I am not big fan of Kurt Busch, nor his on and off track problems, but I thought he had a real good shot and turning his problems around by driving for James Finch, and getting away from the high profile ride with Penske.

I think it would be a real good fit to see Jimmy Spencer to fill in for driving the car for Kurt Busch.

[pandr]

The on track anticks of wrecking people to win is nothing new. This sports most famous driver (Dale Earnhardt) did the same thing in his earlier years. How do you think he got the nick names of "one tough customer" and "the intimidator"? Also the attitude problems on and off the track are nothing new as well. Look at Tony Stewart when he used to have his problems with NASCAR officals, camera men, etc.

Now don't get me wrong, I am not big fan of Kurt Busch, nor his on and off track problems, but I thought he had a real good shot and turning his problems around by driving for James Finch, and getting away from the high profile ride with Penske.

I think it would be a real good fit to see Jimmy Spencer to fill in for driving the car for Kurt Busch.

LMAO. You are haunted DD. Welcome to Spencerville. NASCAR would even have more on their plate!!! :D

[lonewolf]

You are absolutely right !!! This is the way NASCAR and any other type of stock car driver acts but they also know when enough is enough. If people knew how many fights and arguments that happen in the pits they would be shocked but that is the way of life for a stock car driver. But Kurt Bush has gone over the edge and back into school yard fights and pulling a girls hair that he likes because he hasn't grown up yet and his antics have most likely ruined a very good career he could have had and the last of his support team is also had enough of him.
Like Pandr said there are a lot of nation wide drivers that would love a chance to drive with the big boy's and would appreciate the chance. They should just push Kurt out the back door and open the front door for a new driver to step up to the plate!
Unfortunately for Kurt the old sayin goes "If you can't hunt with the big dogs you better stay at home on the porch with the puppies!"

The on track anticks of wrecking people to win is nothing new. This sports most famous driver (Dale Earnhardt) did the same thing in his earlier years. How do you think he got the nick names of "one tough customer" and "the intimidator"? Also the attitude problems on and off the track are nothing new as well. Look at Tony Stewart when he used to have his problems with NASCAR officals, camera men, etc.

Now don't get me wrong, I am not big fan of Kurt Busch, nor his on and off track problems, but I thought he had a real good shot and turning his problems around by driving for James Finch, and getting away from the high profile ride with Penske.

I think it would be a real good fit to see Jimmy Spencer to fill in for driving the car for Kurt Busch.

[rokko]

no one will succeed without having respect for your friends-teammates-and other human beings