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Busch is locked into a contract with Roush through 2006 and is seeking an early release so that he might replace Wallace next season. While refusing further comment, Roush organization officials are mulling Busch's request, saying it will take "an indefinite period" to reach a decision.
It might be surprising that Busch is looking forward to a new home seeing as how he's just 20 races removed from winning last year's championship, but such a move isn't without precedent. Both Darrell Waltrip and Rusty Wallace did it following championships won in the '80s. Wallace is the most recent champion (1989) to leave for another team a full year after winning the crown, as every Cup champ from 1990 on has stayed with the same organization with which he won the title.
Despite being a reigning champion, Busch could be seeking a status upgrade. In leaving Roush, Busch will go from being part of a quintet of drivers that includes another Cup champion (Matt Kenseth) and one of the sport's greatest all-time drivers (Mark Martin) to a trio including Ryan Newman and Travis Kvapil at Penske. As a Cup champion – and with the potential this season to become the first repeat champ since Jeff Gordon in 1997 and 1998 – Busch would become the de facto No. 1 driver in the Penske camp.
Even so, Newman has apparently given his blessing to the new marriage.
"Kurt Busch is a great driver and Ryan said he is looking forward to having him as a teammate and working with him," Penske team president Don Miller told the Associated Press on Tuesday.
Being a clear-cut No. 1 in the Roush organization just wasn't in the cards for Busch. Martin has long been looked upon as the unofficial top dog among the five drivers. And even though Martin is due to say goodbye at the end of this season – unless he comes back for a one-year encore in 2006 – neither Busch nor Kenseth, who have the longest tenures and the most success of all five drivers in recent years, would be officially anointed numero uno.
Translation: there likely would be a power struggle. It's almost inevitable, especially when McMurray enters the fold. With three young drivers in Kenseth, Busch and McMurray, along with rising star Carl Edwards and the suddenly successful Greg Biffle, Roush's "everybody's equal" strategy has the potential to fall apart rather quickly due to high-priced egos.
Busch apparently believes the grass is greener at Penske, and his decision to leave is just the latest hint that all might not be well at the Roush camp despite the team's recent success.
Consider the following:
Almost exactly one year ago to the date, Jeff Burton bolted from the Roush camp to join Richard Childress Racing.
Biffle threatened at midseason last year to leave after the season finale at Homestead unless he received better equipment and status within the organization. Things improved after that and Biffle earlier this year signed a new three-year contract to remain with Roush.
Kenseth criticized Roush for not consulting him before signing McMurray. Kenseth continues to make veiled threats that he might be leaving the company soon, with a potential new home awaiting him at DEI. It helps that Kenseth is one of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s closest friends, as well, though Kenseth has downplayed that possibility.
The future for Edwards had become somewhat murky until Office Depot stepped up last month with a full three-year sponsorship (starting next season), thus keeping Edwards in the Roush camp.
Now Busch, the defending Nextel Cup champion, is on his way out.
Makes you wonder who's next.
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