Best Buy to Roush..AJ gone? Kurt to RPM?

Today started a landslide of rumors in the Cup series when retailer Best Buy announced that they would move to Roush Racing in 2012. Best Buy will sponsor Carl Edwards (sponsor magnet latley) for 2 Cup races and Matt Kenseth for 9 races.

 

RPM followed a statement wishing Best Buy luck in the future and confirmed they will have 2 teams in 2012.

(earlier statements regarding AJ's future hinged on Best Buy returning, but with Kurt Busch being available it appears that RPM will have Busch in the 43 car)

 

Penske Tweeted they would wait on their decision to find a driver for the #22...adding "this week AJ was added to our list"

 

Most reports appear to link Kurt & RPM have a verbal deal for 2012 and working on sponsorship (Best Buy was plan "A") ... Penske likely to have AJ or David Ragan in the #22 with Shell.

 

The other ride of interest would be the #51 team with Reutimann, AJ, Ragan and Busch as potentials.

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Permalink Reply by Bigzoom on December 22, 2011 at 12:59am
Looks like no deal with RPM & Busch... Kurt likely to run NW for Kyle and wait fr a better seat to open... That could mean with JGR or EGR the most likely.
Permalink Reply by Vlad Rogers on December 22, 2011 at 8:40am
You know what, i think thats the best idea for him. Why stick around a cruddy team that makes him look a bad driver? NW until a good seat opens up. Theres a good chance something can open up mid season... or, worst case scenario, 2013.
Permalink Reply by Vlad Rogers on December 22, 2011 at 11:38am

Another thought, Jayski mentioned a rumor floating around is NHRA for a year.  Anybody think he would consider a few IndyCar races?  Maybe the 500?

Permalink Reply by NIKAL on December 22, 2011 at 3:04pm

Kurt to drive the #51 car.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/story/Former-NASCAR-Sprint-Cup-Cham...

Busch put the handshake deal together with team owner James Finch on Wednesday night.

“I went to the shop, and on the Christmas tree was a sign that read, ‘All we want from Santa is a winning driver,' ” Finch said. “We will be at the Daytona test next month and start with the Shootout.”

The decision comes just weeks after Busch left Penske Racing in a mutual parting. Upon his departure, Busch said he “wanted racing to be fun again.”

If Busch, 33, was looking to combine “fun” with racing, no owner can deliver on that promise better than Finch. Couple that with the benefit of Hendrick Motorsports cars and engines, and Busch could be the driver who puts Phoenix Racing on the map.

The 2004 Sprint Cup champion has 24 wins, including two in each of the past three years, and has qualified for six Chase for the Sprint Cups. Busch has won a race in each of the past 10 seasons.

Said Finch: “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.

“As I said earlier, all we want to do is win”.

Finch has been active in Sprint Cup racing since 1990. Phoenix Racing has one victory and three top fives in 191 starts with multiple drivers. The lone win came in April 2009 at Talladega Superspeedway with Brad Keselowski behind the wheel. Nick Harrison will continue to serve as crew chief.

Permalink Reply by Bigzoom on December 22, 2011 at 3:19pm

Yep! Look like we will have a real #51 Rowdy Busch....looks like Ragan will be in the #43 with RPM and Roush assistance. Reutimann is still a possibility if some type of sponsorship is found, but doubtful...at this point. Reutimann will likely end up in the #71 team or NW ride. 

 

Permalink Reply by WJM on December 22, 2011 at 3:23pm

Having to take a seat with a self-funded team with one win and three top fives in 18 years. This is what a bad rep and baggage full of damaged goods will get you. Oh well, no where to go but up.

Permalink Reply by chase on December 22, 2011 at 4:10pm

He'll win a race. I'll bet money on that. They'll also bring in better people and probably gather some sponsor dollars now. I think the biggest loser is the 43 car. They are now going to be stuck with someone like David Ragan and no sponsor signed towards the end of December.

Permalink Reply by Bigzoom on December 22, 2011 at 4:54pm

43 team will struggle some...but they're not the biggest loser. The biggest loser is the guys like Andy Lally, Landon Cassill and David Reutimann. Thses guys thought they were making progress only to wake up to nothing!

 

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