I think you are right. Not the kind of company man Penske would like. Might not be enough room for another angry driver at Gibbs. If it is true, he will totally eclipse Junior, who is talented, but way overrated.
Kurt Busch to take over No. 2 car
Defending Nextel Cup champion will leave Roush Racing, perhaps as early as 2006
By JIM UTTER
ThatsRacin.com Writer
Reigning Nextel Cup champion Kurt Busch has signed with Penske Racing South to replace retiring driver Rusty Wallace in its No. 2 Dodges, Penske and Roush Racing announced Tuesday.
Less than two hours after Roush said Busch signed with another team for 2007 and asked to be released from his 2006 obligations, Penske Racing released a one-sentence statement saying it had signed Busch "to a multi-year contract to drive for the team beginning with the 2007 season."
Sources confirmed Busch's 2007 deal could make him one of the highest-paid drivers in the sport, if not the highest.
What Penske would do should Busch not get out of his 2006 deal isn't clear, although asking Wallace to remain another season does not appear to be an option, sources said.
Roush officials said a decision will be made at a later date.
"Due to sponsor and team considerations no decision on that request will be made for an indefinite period," the Roush statement said. "Roush Racing will have no further comment at this time."
In an ironic twist, it was Roush Racing that began the sign-the-driver-early wave, by signing Jamie McMurray to a 2007 contract earlier this season to take over the No. 6 Fords of Mark Martin, who is also retiring.
McMurray has, so far, been unable to get out of his 2006 obligations with Chip Ganassi Racing, and Martin has been asked about driving the No. 6 one more season.
I agree with the Penske statement. Plus, Penske (especially the #2) hasn't shown a lot of muscle except when #12 qualifies.
Gibbs doesn't seem like the place either. B. Labonte and T. Stewart have both won championships so there's no instant marketing value by hiring Busch.
As for Ganassi......Why would anyone want to drive for a team that Felix Sabates is involved with?
The DEI thing is just too juicy because he would be a recent Cup champion on a team that frankly looks lost.
The only other outside possibility I can think of would be something at RYR. It would keep him with Ford and could be tied into DJ's retirement plans. But, the strife that would occur between Yates and Roush would ruin their engine relationship.