Penske Racing splits with Kurt Busch

Kurt Busch and Penske Racing parted ways Monday after six bumpy seasons, a split that clouds Busch's future in NASCAR as he embarks on a personal journey to reclaim his passion for racing.

Both Penske and Busch said ending the relationship was a "mutual agreement," but most believe Busch was fired in the fallout of yet another embarrassing incident. A fan caught Busch on video verbally abusing an ESPN reporter during last month's season finale, and Busch was fined $50,000 by NASCAR after the clip was posted on YouTube.

Busch, though, insisted that leaving Penske is probably the best thing for him personally and seemed at peace during an interview with The Associated Press.

"What's troublesome is this five letter 'f-i-r-e-d' word is being used, but it's obvious to me that looking back, I was very unhappy over the second half of the season," Busch said.

"I need to put the fun back into racing for me. I want to be a better driver and a better person. Today is the day that begins. I take a deep breath, I smile, and I move forward from here."

Busch admitted last week that he began seeing a sports psychologist about two months ago to address what he called "personal issues."

The 2011 season was particularly brutal for Busch, who is known for both his intensity and notorious meltdowns during in-race communications with his race team. Although he won two races and made the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship, he had an epic tantrum over his in-car radio at Richmond in May that set the tone for the season.

Busch had at least three public flare-ups with media members. Steve Addington became his second crew chief to quit in three years. Busch was overshadowed on and off the track by Penske teammate Brad Keselowski. He also became publicly annoyed over interest in his divorce and new relationship with Patricia Driscoll, head of the national charity the Armed Forces Foundation.

His behavior wore thin on the buttoned-up Penske organization, which signed Busch away from Roush Fenway Racing a year removed from his 2004 Cup championship. Busch said that, after reflecting during the Thanksgiving break, he came to realize he maybe just isn't Penske material.

"I'm not sure I was the best fit," he said. "My frankness and my intensity, it didn't play the way I intended it to. It didn't fit."

Busch won 10 Cup races and made the Chase four times since joining Penske in 2006. Bud Denker, a senior vice president for Penske Corp., seemed puzzled by Busch's assessment of his fit with the organization.

"We thought he did a terrific job for us on the track, and there is no better driver who hits the marks, relative to sponsors and understanding the brands, than Kurt," Denker said. "He was admirable. I never saw him as a bad fit, so those are his thoughts."

Denker was also quick to stress that Busch was not fired and the split came after weeks of discussions about concerns both sides had regarding the direction of the organization. Busch has always been outspoken about how he believes things should be done, and regardless of his incident at Homestead with ESPN reporter Dr. Jerry Punch, both sides had been moving toward a split.

"Was the Homestead situation the reason he left? No. We had our concerns and he had his, and it was time for us to separate," Denker said. "I think we've done it mutually and above board. It was not a firing. We did not fire Kurt Busch.

"We said 'here's where we are going in the future, Kurt, and we talked to our sponsors and they concurred with us."

Denker said discussions began in earnest Monday on a replacement for Busch, and the team had been contacted by several drivers "raising their hand." Among active Cup drivers available are David Ragan, Brian Vickers and David Reutimann, who will all head into 2012 without rides. There's a deep pool of talent in the Nationwide Series, as well, but Denker said longtime Penske driver Sam Hornish Jr. is not a candidate.

"Our intentions all along have been to run Sam for the Nationwide Series championship next season," Denker said. "We love that plan, NASCAR loves that plan, the sponsors love that plan."

It's also not clear where Busch is headed next. Busch would not commit in his interview with AP to returning to NASCAR next season.

He said he wants to "be remembered as a champion driver" and laughed when asked if that was a goodbye. Busch, 33, has dabbled in NHRA and Street Stock Racing in the past, and said that's where he's found the most joy of late.

"That's where I had the smile on the face," he said. "It reminded me of the beginning days of racing for me."