Kurt Busch will drive for Phoenix Racing in 2012, according to FoxSports.com. Busch will drive the No. 51 Chevy, after Busch reached a “handshake deal with team owner James Finch.
Finch said:
I told Kurt, “I won’t fire you, and you won’t quit. We’ll do whatever it takes — roll in the mud if we have to to win. I’ve worked construction all my life just so I could race and have a good time. I’ve worked with iron workers, I worked with construction workers, so working with a driver is not going to be a problem. … All we want to do is win.”
Busch brings with him championship experience, as well as 24 career Sprint Cup wins. Busch has also qualified for the Chase six times.
Busch parted ways with Penske Racing immediately following the season, after a series of high profile outbursts, which included a video of him berating Dr. Jerry Punch that went viral on YouTube.
Busch was said to be in the running for the No. 43 car of Richard Petty Motorsports, in an effort to keep sponsor Best Buy. Best Buy, however, moved its sponsorship to Roush Fenway Racing and drivers Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards. AJ Allmendinger left RPM to join Penske, and the No. 22 Busch vacated.
[...] Busch will drive for Phoenix in the Sprint Cup next season. [...]
It’s really very shocking that Kurt Busch got one more chance after that incident when he abused a reporter during the Sprint cup Finale. And for this reason he was fined $50,000 by NASCAR. Kurt Busch always surrounded with controversial matters. But still he is getting chance to drive for Phoenix racing.
Finch takes right decision to take Kurt in and give him a chance to change their attitude towards car racing. He is a good driver, but he have to use their potential to win the race rather than misbehaving and abusing another.
[...] Penske Racing’s No. 22 at the end of last season after a series of high profile meltdowns. He joined Phoenix Racing for the 2012 season, but the team has struggled to find [...]