[drnascar48]

Kyle Busch's behavior might create vacancy for car owner soon

Tuesday, May 22, 2007 - 12:06 AM

By JENNA FRYER
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS


CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Rick Hendrick wasn't lying when he said he has no room on his team for Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Hendrick, the last big-time owner to comment publicly on Earnhardt's free agent status, has spoken to NASCAR's most popular driver about his future. But with a full stable of drivers under contract, Hendrick didn't have a whole lot to offer.
"I've talked to him about doing motors and cars if he wants to do this himself," Hendrick told The Associated Press. "But that's really all we've discussed.
"Right now, I'm full."
C'mon, Mr. H, are you really claiming there's no room at the inn for a superstar such as Earnhardt?
"There's no room at the inn," he firmly repeated.
He's right. But that doesn't mean things can't change.
Jeff Gordon has a lifetime contract with Hendrick Motorsports, so he's not going anywhere until he retires. With a fifth championship looking realistic for this season, it doesn't appear Gordon will be turning in his car keys anytime soon.
Jimmie Johnson -- the defending Nextel Cup champion -- is a car owner's dream, and he just signed an extension last season that will keep him in a Hendrick car for a long time.
So that leaves Kyle Busch and Casey Mears, and conventional wisdom says Mears should be nervous about keeping his cushy Hendrick job.
Mears is having a tough first season with Hendrick and is 35th in the standings. But he was placed with the one team at Hendrick that always has struggled and walked into a team that was a tad bit behind when he got there in December.
Hendrick made a crew chief change four days before teams reported to Daytona, and it's taking time for everyone to catch up.
Yes, Mears appears to be the weak link. But it's unfair to judge him after 11 races, and it's doubtful that Hendrick is doing that.
Busch, on the other hand, has had plenty of time to be judged.
Although Busch is under contract through 2008 and Hendrick said he's working on an extension, the car owner perhaps should reconsider.
Busch is an excellent driver. He made the Chase for the Cup last season, has four career victories and is 11th in the points.
But the 22-year-old has made three significant missteps this season that raise questions if the talent is worth the headaches.
Consider:
After winning the first Car of Tomorrow race at Bristol in March, Busch came off as a spoiled brat when he ripped the car and repeatedly said it "sucked" during his victory lane interview.
Busch left the track without telling his crew after wrecking in Texas last month. When the team patched up the car to get back on the track for valuable points, Busch had left and Earnhardt was tapped to finish the race.
He wrecked his older brother, Kurt, in Saturday night's all-star race, then gave Kurt the opportunity to be the model of decorum. He delivered the line of the race when he said, "I'm not eating any Kellogg's any time soon," in reference to Kyle's sponsor. The incident spoke volumes to how far Kurt Busch has come. He's made significant strides since joining Penske Racing last season. When he's not trying so hard to be liked, or butchering the English language in an attempt to sound smart, Kurt Busch can be kind of cool.
Kyle Busch? Not so much.
He comes off as arrogant and entitled, and veterans repeatedly gripe Busch never wants to listen to their advice.
And after Busch and Mears had issues last season, Busch immaturely said he didn't know how to get in touch with Mears to discuss it. Never mind that these guys live inches apart in the motor home lot 38 weekends a year.
Hendrick is a patient man who can put up with an awful lot. And there's no reason to believe that enough time in the Hendrick organization won't eventually make Busch grow up and start behaving the way a good Hendrick driver is expected to.
But with Earnhardt sitting on the open market, wanting desperately to fit in with an organization committed to helping him win championships, one has to wonder if Hendrick should take a long hard look at making it happen.
Who knows? Maybe room No. 5 at the Hendrick inn suddenly could open.


Link:inRich - Auto Racing - Hendrick's stable too full for Junior -- now

So what do you think about this story. Please write back.

[jks812]

I don't really see Hendrick getting rid of Kyle,but who knows. And I really don't see Jr getting in the #25. It has always run as bad as what he's trying to get out of. No matter who drives it, it don't do much. I just really hope he don't go to Hendrick.
Besides who wants to drive for an owner who will drop someone just to make room for you, just means he'll drop you to make room for someone else if you're not doing like he thinks you should.

[wardfan]

since when do contracts mean anything in sports. People are always buying their way out of them.

[drnascar48]

Originally Posted by jks812

I don't really see Hendrick getting rid of Kyle,but who knows. And I really don't see Jr getting in the #25. It has always run as bad as what he's trying to get out of. No matter who drives it, it don't do much. I just really hope he don't go to Hendrick.
Besides who wants to drive for an owner who will drop someone just to make room for you, just means he'll drop you to make room for someone else if you're not doing like he thinks you should.

Kyle Busch drives the #5 car Casey Mears drives the #25 car. I thought I would tell before anyone else told you. I Hendrick Motorsports fan.

[drnascar48]

Originally Posted by wardfan

since when do contracts mean anything in sports. People are always buying their way out of them.

That is a very good point that you have their. If they aren't buying their way they are trying to do something to get into nascar. Most drivers no someone on the race team to get a the ride. How do you think Casey Mears got the ride at Hendrick Motorsports. He had a friend that he went to high school with on the 25 team. That is how he got the ride with HMS.

[jks812]

Originally Posted by drnascar48

Kyle Busch drives the #5 car Casey Mears drives the #25 car. I thought I would tell before anyone eles told you. I Hendrick Motorsports fan.

Yes I know all this. But the article mentioned both rides. And also there has been alot of conversations about how maybe Mears, not Busch, should be worried.
Just because I'm not a Hendrick fan don't mean I don't know his drivers. I have to admit though that Gordon has grown on me alittle bit.

[LSC9901]

Come Feb of 2008 we'll all know for sure where Jr. will be driving.

[Mike24]

While Jr would be a great fit with HMS, I think HMS is just full right now. They have Gordon and Johnson, which are the 2 best drivers on the circuit right now. Kyle Busch is a great driver who shouldn't be taken out of the 5 for Jr, and Casey Mears will soon develop in the 25, and become a contender. I don't see Jr going to RCR, I think there is something haunting this deal, and with RCR merging with DEI, why would Jr go to RCR and run some of the DEI equipment when he left because of their equipment? And Gibbs doesn't want Jr due to the budweiser deal. And the other option was creating his own team, which I think that is a huge possibility now. Interesting times coming up.

[jks812]

Originally Posted by Mike24

While Jr would be a great fit with HMS, I think HMS is just full right now. They have Gordon and Johnson, which are the 2 best drivers on the circuit right now. Kyle Busch is a great driver who shouldn't be taken out of the 5 for Jr, and Casey Mears will soon develop in the 25, and become a contender. I don't see Jr going to RCR, I think there is something haunting this deal, and with RCR merging with DEI, why would Jr go to RCR and run some of the DEI equipment when he left because of their equipment? And Gibbs doesn't want Jr due to the budweiser deal. And the other option was creating his own team, which I think that is a huge possibility now. Interesting times coming up.

I agree. I also can't think of any driver that should be let go just for Jr (and I am a huge fan of his). At the end of the day he's just a race car driver like the rest of em. Better than some not as good as others. But I'd be very surprised if he went to RCR now too.

[Souporscotty]

I think Hendrick's stable is full of ego right now too.

[SteelPhoenyx]

I still think he'd be a great addition to RCR... and no... NOT in the 3.

[jks812]

Originally Posted by SteelPhoenyx

I still think he'd be a great addition to RCR... and no... NOT in the 3.

I thought so too, and also not in the 3. But he left DEI to get away from the equipment and everything, and now Teresa and Richard are partnering on the engine stuff. He may still go there but I'd be surprised.

[drnascar48]

Originally Posted by jks812

Yes I know all this. But the article mentioned both rides. And also there has been alot of conversations about how maybe Mears, not Busch, should be worried.
Just because I'm not a Hendrick fan don't mean I don't know his drivers. I have to admit though that Gordon has grown on me alittle bit.

I am sorry. But I just noticed that in the article. Your right.

[drnascar48]

I have a friend that goes to NTI and he has a friend brother working at Hall of Fame Racing. They are saying that are looking to start up a second team. He told me that they looking to hire Dale Earnhardt JR for that second car. Hall of Fame Racing wants Budwiser to come with jr. They haven't picked a number yet. They said that they are going to let Dale Earnhardt Jr. pick the number for that car if he wants to go with Hall of Fame Racing. But I have a friend that works at RCR and he told me that they are already starting to build cars for Dale Jr. The number on the car is 33 and the paint scheme looks like his father's old GM GoodWrench paint Scheme. They want the bud logo on the car. So I don't know what team Dale Jr. is going to go to. If I had to pick I think he might go to RCR. One because they are a winning team. The only bad thing is that Dale Jr. doesn't like Kevin Harvick. He isn't going to go to Hall of Fame Racing because they haven't won any races but if Dale Jr. goes to Hall of Fame Racing he might be able to help Tony Raines win some races or help Hall of Fame Racing win some races. I have also heared that JGR is thinking about letting J.J Yeley go or putting him back into the busch series. So that means the number 18 car will be open again. So Dale Jr. might be driving the famous number 18 car. If he goes to JGR he won't have a problem fitting in at JGR because he is friends with Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin. That is what I think about that.

[Souporscotty]

Originally Posted by drnascar48

I have a friend that goes to NTI and he has a friend brother working at Hall of Fame Racing. They are saying that are looking to start up a second team. He told me that they looking to hire Dale Earnhardt JR for that second car. Hall of Fame Racing wants Budwiser to come with jr. They haven't picked a number yet. They said that they are going to let Dale Earnhardt Jr. pick the number for that car if he wants to go with Hall of Fame Racing. But I have a friend that works at RCR and he told me that they are already starting to build cars for Dale Jr. The number on the car is 33 and the paint scheme looks like his father's old GM GoodWrench paint Scheme. They want the bud logo on the car. So I don't know what team Dale Jr. is going to go to. If I had to pick I think he might go to RCR. One because they are a winning team. The only bad thing is that Dale Jr. doesn't like Kevin Harvick. He isn't going to go to Hall of Fame Racing because they haven't won any races but if Dale Jr. goes to Hall of Fame Racing he might be able to help Tony Raines win some races or help Hall of Fame Racing win some races. I have also heared that JGR is thinking about letting J.J Yeley go or putting him back into the busch series. So that means the number 18 car will be open again. So Dale Jr. might be driving the famous number 18 car. If he goes to JGR he won't have a problem fitting in at JGR because he is friends with Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin. That is what I think about that.

By golly! That clears it all up.