UPDATE: RPM struggled to re-sign Best Buy a year ago, negotiating until early January before inking a one-year contract. The electronics retailer served as major sponsor of the #43 team in 26 events this season. RPM did not release an official statement on the speculation that either Allmendinger had been released or if Best Buy was ready to remain with the team for 2012. The possibility of adding Busch as a third entry has also been discussed but contingent on finding additional sponsorship.(CBS Sports)(12-14-2011)
Source: www.jayski.com
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I hear that this option is actually being considered as we speak, and if you don’t believe me, check out this article on www.jayski.com.
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RPM considering Kurt Busch in #43 car? Sirius XM NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody has learned that in an effort to retain sponsor Best Buy, Richard Petty Motorsports has proposed replacing AJ Allmendinger as driver of the legendary #43 Ford with Busch. RPM struggled to re-sign Best Buy a year ago, negotiating until early January before inking a one-year contract. The electronics retailer served as major sponsor of the #43 team in 26 events this season.
Richard Petty Motorsports Chief Operating Officer Robbie Loomis confirmed today that discussions have been held regarding Busch, saying, “Best Buy has been a great partner for a long time, and AJ Allmendinger has done a fantastic job for us. He’s coming off his best season yet, but I can tell you there is a lot of interest on our part in having Kurt Busch in the fold. It makes sense to have Kurt with our team, if we can make it work.
“Our main focus is to continue building on what we finished the season with last year,” said Loomis. “But right now, I feel like I’m running down two different sets of train tracks. From a personal standpoint, nothing has excited me more than when I heard Kurt had become available. I’m excited about the opportunity to add a driver like Kurt Busch to Richard Petty Motorsports. I would mortgage my house to make Kurt a part of this team. We value what he has done on the race track. He has won a (Sprint Cup) championship and worked for a first-class operation like Penske Racing. Guys like that don’t come along every day.”
Allmendinger finished 15th in 2011 Sprint Cup Series championship points, with one Top-5 and 10 Top-10 finishes. His best finish was a fifth in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in late May. Busch won a pair of races this season at Infineon and Dover en route to 11th in points, tallying eight Top-5 and 16 Top-10 finishes. He parted company with Penske Racing earlier this month, in the aftermath of a much-publicized verbal confrontation with ESPN pit reporter Dr. Jerry Punch during the 2011 season finale at Homestead Miami Speedway (Sirius Speedway).
No word what Allmendinger would do IF this happens; and not too sure Jack Roush [who Busch drove for before Penske and had issues with], who’s team also supplies cars and engines to RPM would allow this to happen.(12-13-2011)
Source: www.jayski.com
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Richard Petty Motorsports has been on the verge of something huge, and Kurt Busch could be just the driver they need to take them over the next hill as it were, if he does indeed drive the #43 car next year. (I like this a lot better than the Phoenix Racing idea!) Robbie Loomis is a good crew chief and could be a great fit for Busch. I don’t understand why there would be any concern as to what Jack Roush thinks about this…it’s not like he owns the team. They should be able to hire whoever they want to drive their cars.
Kurt Busch could be a great teammate for up and coming racer Marcos Amberose to learn a few things off of. Richard Petty could straighten him out. This could be just the place for Busch if everything works out. Busch could be just the driver to put the #43 back into victory lane and with those Roush engines, maybe even win another championship. Time will tell.
Related:
“Options For Kurt Busch: Maybe Joe Gibbs Racing?”
“Options For Kurt Busch: Maybe Earnhardt Ganassi Racing?”
“Kurt Busch To Talk Racing With James Finch”
“Options For Kurt Busch: Maybe Phoenix Racing?”
“Options For Kurt Busch: Maybe TRG?”
“Pundit-ing The Possibilities”
“Future Might Not Be Totally Bleak For Kurt Busch”
“Kurt Busch And Penske Racing Mutually Part Ways”
“David Ragan To Replace Kurt Busch”
“Here’s Hoping This Is A Rumor: Kurt Busch Possibly Fired”
“What’s Next For Kurt Busch?”