Busch to RPM...???

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)

This makes perfect business sense for RPM. They have a 2 -car team with all the rsources, but with Ambrose still young in his Cup career, having Busch would be a huge win for RPM. It would be a big break for Kurt too. This deal will likley hinge on Best Buy.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Kenyon on December 13, 2011 at 3:37pm

FoPa #1? I would mortgage my house to make Kurt a part of this team. (Really?)
FoPa#2? worked for a first-class operation like Penske Racing ( not mentioning your car supplier Roush as first class?)
Fopa#3? AJ Allmendinger has done a fantastic job for us. (but, he's a nice guy, a good interview,but?)
Maybe Rat in the Hat is good with it since Kurt won't be work directly for him?!

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Permalink Reply by Dave-O on December 13, 2011 at 10:11pm

Yeah, Loomis must be choking on his heel...

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Permalink Reply by Beagle7 on December 13, 2011 at 3:40pm

42 other drivers would be very dismayed....doesn't Lynn perform chiropractic/massage on many of them in the garage?

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Permalink Reply by R. ALDRIDGE on December 13, 2011 at 3:42pm

I don't think Best Buy is going to be able to play with the big boys much longer. I've heard stories of people going to Best Buy to check out all the models, then actually using the computer in the store to order from Amazon. Just like Blockbuster found out when Netflix and Redbox came along, they are caught with too much brick and mortar in an internet age. No extra money to throw ar NASCAR.

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Permalink Reply by WJM on December 13, 2011 at 3:44pm

Then I'd like to see Penske put AJ in the #22. AJ is a team player. After the Red Bull debacle he was unhappy but never threw anyone under the bus, and if Busch takes his ride he'll take the high road again. Perfect Penske material - plus he's a ex-open wheel guy.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Kenyon on December 13, 2011 at 3:57pm

good call, David Ragan would be a seat warmer at Penske.IMO

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Permalink Reply by kurt kern on December 13, 2011 at 8:58pm

I'm with you on that....AJ in the #22. Done.

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Permalink Reply by NIKAL on December 13, 2011 at 4:25pm

If RPM puts Kurt in any of its cars then RPM is not only stupid, but deserves everything they have coming to them. You would think Richard Petty would know a good thing when they see it. Then again I guess they have a short term memory when it comes to business.

Lets see Richard thought pushing Kyle out of the family business was smart and letting Robbie Loomis run the business was a great idea. Then Richard and Loomis think letting Boston Ventures buy into the team was a great idea. Even Bobby Labonte knew it was doom for the team and asked to be released from the #43. He still had 4 years left on his contract that he had just signed earlier in the year, prior to Boston Ventures buying in.That is how confident Bobby was in Boston Ventures and Richard Petty.

Yep that Boston Ventures deal worked out like shit. So much so that Boston Ventures sold out to George Gillett. Then Gillett ran what was left of the Petty name into the ground and skipped town owing allot of people money. It was so bad that during the end Richard admitted the only part of Petty in that business was his name on the building. He was not even privy to what was going on or in the meetings.

So now Richard finds some other investors to help him get his business back, he chooses to keep Robbie Loomis. Why I dont know, he has not done Richard any favors. Now what can only be considered a huge success for Petty, is that in one season they were able to race competitively and have both teams finish in the top 20 in points. AJ in 15th and Marcos in 19th with one win this season.

So what does this team look too consider? Dumping AJ and replace him with Kurt! Its not like AJ was not performing. If Best Buy signs off on this and wants Kurt, we need to send letters to Best Buy showing our disapointment. I know I will! Kurt is a spoiled punk that needs to get 3rd rate equipment to learn what he had. He has always had top notch equipment and my guess is he would flop if he had to drive 3rd rate equipment. His real talents would show that is for sure.

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Permalink Reply by speedy7 on December 13, 2011 at 4:36pm

I take it you don,t like Kurt to much, but that provisnal looms in the mix and with his bulshit comes a fairly good driver------------thinking out loud again.............

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Permalink Reply by Vlad Rogers on December 13, 2011 at 5:21pm

Id feel horrible for AJ, hopefully a Penske ride could be his consolation (YES)... but lets face it, a winners a winner, you cant replace that for anything. You want Best Buy back, they want wins, then Kurt is the way to go...

Two options:

1. an unproven driver with mixed results

2. a proven consistent winner/champion

Do you see any other way for RPM to get on top? Hope AJ or Marcos can do it?

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Permalink Reply by Hummer Time on December 15, 2011 at 5:03pm

Agree 100% kurt is a good driver but a first class prick as a person. The media is going to be all over his in car audios and behavior on and off the track. I want aj in the 22!