Anyway, the fact that a driver such as Kurt Busch is a free agent at this point in the year is an extremely rare occurrence. Of course, he only has himself to blame. However, if the rumblings coming from Sirius radio are accurate, his talent and proven resume will put him in a solid ride before Christmas Eve. Richard Petty Motorsports co-owner Andrew Murstein and Chief Operating Officer Robbie Loomis both admitted that they would love to put the 2004 champion in the legendary No. 43 Ford.
"I think he's a great competitor who just needs to take a step back and clear his head. Perhaps someone as well-respected, talented, and universally loved like the King (that would be Richard Petty in case you reside beneath a rock) could help him accomplish that," Murstein told Foxsports.
That sounds like a guy ready to put together a deal. Of course, RPM is hoping to retain Best Buy as a sponsor, and if they are able to get over Busch's past transgressions, it is doubtful that they would pass on a driver with the skill set that Busch possesses. RPM had to work hard in order to persuade Best Buy to remain with current driver A.J. Allmendinger, who has yet to win a race or qualify for the Chase for the Championship.
Where there is smoke there is fire, and I believe this is inevitable. Loomis and Murstein want Busch, and Best Buy wants a proven winner. Of course, there will be obstacles...starting with RPM's helpful neighbors at Roush Fenway Racing. Jack Roush has made it clear he does not care for Busch following their nasty divorce six years ago. Roush and RPM have a close alliance, with Roush providing most of the benefits. Roush may attempt to use his persuasive powers to block any deal that would include bringing Kurt Busch back to the Ford camp. Ultimately, Roush does not own RPM, and the decision will be based on Murstein, Petty, and Best Buy.
What about Richard Petty? He is a legend on the track, as well as off the track. He is a symbol of class in NASCAR. Basically, he is the polar opposite of Kurt Busch. Petty has a strong fan base that still exists nearly 20 years following his retirement. He is also very image conscience. Is he ready to add a self-destructive driver like Busch to his driver roster? Clearly, there will be a lot of backlash from the anti-Busch fans, and there is thousands upon thousands of them.
Is he ready to lose fans, because he will if Busch takes over the No. 43. Many will consider this as blasphemy. I know that is extreme, but some fans are downright passionate.
On the other hand, Petty wants to win now just as bad as he did during his driving days. He will enjoy many more visits to victory lane with Kurt Busch behind the wheel.
What happens to Allmendinger if this rumor transforms into reality. Here is a guy coming off his best season in Sprint Cup. He finished 15th in the Sprint Cup standings, scoring 10 top ten finishes. He seems to improve each year.
If this goes down, Allmendinger better hope that Penske Racing takes their time in the pursuit of Busch's replacement. In fact, Allmendinger would be better off if this happens now so he can make a case for the No. 22 ride. As of now, David Ragan is the leading candidate, and could be signed by the end of the week.
If this happens, it would completely shoot down my prediction, which was that Busch would sign with Phoenix Racing's No. 51 Chevrolet, but replace Joey Logano in the No. 20 Toyota at Joe Gibbs Racing by June of 2012.
Speaking of Phoenix Racing, James Finch is clearly going to get an upgrade behind the wheel. If he does not land Kurt Busch, he has options that include two-time winners David Reutimann and Brian Vickers. Allmendinger and Ragan could also be available. Nothing against Landon Cassill, who was actually impressive in 2011, but any of the five mentioned drivers would be an upgrade.
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