That sucks considering they have been saying over and over that they have had a drought there up to now.
When do they run the race then? Monday?
What's the weather like tomorrow?
I'd expect Monday (that's what they've done in the past when the Busch Series supported the Cup).
What's the weather like tomorrow?
U-G-L-Y with a capital Y. Dunno what happens when both races get rained out.
They've got the covers off most of the cars, but the clouds have returned.
Busch is mum about leaving Roush Racing
Defection has Nextel Cup garage abuzz heading into Watkins Glen race
By Mike Mulhern
JOURNAL REPORTER
Saturday, August 13, 2005
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y.
Why would a driver who has just won the NASCAR championship suddenly be ready to leave his team only eight months later?
That was one of the many questions facing Kurt Busch yesterday morning when he walked into the Nextel Cup garage.
Busch, who won last year's Chase for the Championship, patiently fielded rapid-fire questions about his pending jump from Ford car owner Jack Roush to Dodge's Roger Penske for the 2007 season. Busch's jump could come as early as next season, but only if Roush will release him from the final year of his current contract.
Roush pulled a similar move three weeks ago, signing Jamie McMurray to a 2007 contract even though McMurray is still under contract to drive for Chip Ganassi through 2006.
Penske officials said that Penske wouldn't be commenting for at least a week about signing Busch. But everyone else in the garage area - including a rather irate Roush - was abuzz about Busch's defection from the team that helped carry him to the title.
Busch would not say when Penske first offered him the ride - "I can't disclose that at all" - but said the process was not done overnight.
"It was a very difficult decision," said Busch, who was plucked out of obscurity by Roush five years ago. "But timing is everything in this sport. And opportunities are few and far between."
Busch says he gave veteran crew chief Jimmy Fennig and his crew a motivational speech when he arrived at the track this week: "They know it wasn't them, they know it wasn't me, they know it wasn't Roush Racing. They know it's just this business.
"The crew understands they have a job to do, and I have a job to do, so let's focus on that."
Another question is whether Roush will, as he did last August when faced with a similar situation with Jeff Burton, simply release Busch immediately
Roush hinted that he might not have been willing to negotiate a new contract with Busch.
"You want some news - nobody has asked Jack if he was willing to negotiate with Kurt for beyond 2006," Roush said. "Geoff Smith (the general manager of Roush Racing) had been talking with Kurt about 2007 and beyond, but nobody asked Jack if he thought the end game was going to be worth the trouble.
"Kurt has been a challenge over a period of time, and every day, as I'm sure he was measuring what he was getting through the relationship, I was having dark thoughts about what I was getting and whether it was worth it."
Roush said that Busch delivered the news face-to-face.
"For me it was up close and personal - it was right across the table about 8:07 Tuesday morning," Roush said.
"Kurt said 'I know I wouldn't have had a chance to be in this business today if you hadn't found me and given me a chance four or five years ago. And I also know I wouldn't have been successful if you hadn't put Jimmy Fennig and all the other folks I needed, even though I didn't recognize that at first.'
"I had no idea where he was going with this.
"Then he said 'But on the other hand I've just been faced with a once in a lifetime opportunity I can't say no to. So I won't be won't be negotiating with you for 2007. And beyond that, I'd like to get released in 2006 so I can start next year.'
"I told him 'That's a problem. You've got a contract with me, you've made commitments to me, and I've made commitments to other people. And we're obviously not broke; we're at the top of our game. So I would expect you to keep your commitment to me unless Geoff Smith works out a different strategy.'
"He met with the team, and he told them - without giving them the details - that he was moving to a lesser team."
Busch, remarkably cool as he faced a horde of reporters and cameras, said he made his decision "because of opportunities and timing. I believe it was good for Kurt Busch. Jack jumped the gun on things (releasing the news). We'll see how it shakes out from here."
What Roush does next, Busch said, remains to be seen: "It's Jack's decision. We'll see what happens. (Next year) is still a question mark.
