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Sprint Cup
NASCAR Race Hub: Pockrass And Dillner Talk About Kurt Busch’s Future
The Sporting News NASCAR writer, Bob Pockrass along with SPEED NASCAR reporter Bob Dillner talk about Kurt Busch...
POCKRASS & DILLNER TALK ABOUT BUSCH’S FUTURE WITH CAR OWNER JAMES FINCH on NASCAR RACE HUB
Last Night’s NASCAR Race Hub on SPEED, hosted by Steve Byrnes, offered an interesting discussion on how the latest trouble for Kurt Busch may affect his relationship, and future, with his current car owner James Finch and Phoenix Racing.
The Sporting News NASCAR writer, Bob Pockrass, a guest on last night’s show, along with SPEED NASCAR reporter Bob Dillner talked about how everything may play out. Here is what each had to say.
Bob Pockrass, The Sporting News NASCAR Writer
Steve Byrnes: James Finch (Busch’s car owner) was quoted again today saying that they were going to have a ‘Come to Jesus’ meeting – his words not mine – with Kurt. And he said, ‘It’s simple. He’s got to to quit wrecking race cars, and be nice to people. In your opinion, do you think he will continue – that being James Finch – with Kurt Busch after Pocono?
Bob Pockrass: First off, I haven’t talked to James because of the situation I am in – in this deal. So I don’t know exactly what he’s thinking. But, I think he will. I think if he didn’t want Kurt, Kurt would already be out the door.
Bob Dillner, SPEED NASCAR Reporter
Byrnes: Bob, you have had a very lengthy conversation with James Finch, the team owner of the No. 51, and I want to get back to what (NASCAR Analyst) Matt Clark said last night, Matt’s comment was, “I feel like we’re watching a great talent self-destruct right in front of us.” Lend us the perspective of how James Finch, the car owner, feels.
Bob Dillner: James said he’s a ‘loose cannon’ and he needs to change. James said that he has more problems than just on-track attitude that he has to deal with. James has not taken Kurt’s phone call. Kurt has called him several times and left messages.
Byrnes: …Okay, but Bob Pockrass mentioned that, that they aren’t going to meet until next Tuesday, why is that?
Dillner: Well, James wanted to give Kurt the time to really think about what happened. And he said he’s not going to take his phone calls, but he’s had several people call me (James Finch) on his behalf to say, ‘Hey, reach out to Kurt. He wants to talk to you. He wants to apologize.’ But he’s (Finch) has had enough of it, honestly. He said, ‘We are going to meet on Tuesday.’ And he used the same phrase with me; we’re going to have a ‘Come to Jesus’ meeting. Kurt is going to adhere to his rules; otherwise, he’s not going to be in that race car. It depends on Kurt. That’s exactly what James Finch said. If Kurt says the right things, I’ll (James Finch) put Kurt in the car for Michigan, and if he gets in the car, it will be by a race-by-race basis.
Byrnes: Their relationship to me has seemed tenuous because - they didn’t have a contract and I think they are okay with a handshake deal - I get it. But, at issue, Kurt has torn up at least 10-12 race cars, maybe more.
Dillner: James told me 14 race cars to date, and he’s completely demolished two or three of them, so…
Byrnes: … and they don’t have a sponsor.
Dillner: Yeah. Absolutely.
Byrnes: So my question to you is, in your conversation with James, does James feel like he can attract sponsorship with Kurt Busch as his driver?
Dillner: James actually brought that up in our conversation today, he said, “I don’t know if we’re going to be able to get a sponsor with Kurt Busch as my driver.” He admitted, “You know what, I knew Kurt Busch was using me. He had no place to go this year. He needed a ride. He came to me.” At the same time, “You know. I was kind of using Kurt Busch myself because I figured if I got a big-name driver in my car, I might be able to attract that sponsor. Honestly, right now, he’s damaged goods. I don’t know if anybody is going to want to sponsor my car with Kurt Busch in it.”
Byrnes: I texted back and forth last night with Steve Barkdoll, the general manager at Phoenix Racing and James Finch. I was, maybe not surprised, but his comment was, “We’ve been inundated by people who have called us.” So to me, I think James has options, meaning competent drivers in that seat, do you think they will move forward together once the suspension is lifted?
Dillner: I think James Finch is telling the truth. If Kurt Busch mouths off to him on Tuesday, Kurt Busch will not be in that 51 car come Michigan. James said that David Reutimann is a good driver; obviously he’s in the seat this week. They have thought about Brian Vickers, but Brian is off in Europe (Le Mans) and all over the place with his road racing right now, and maybe one other person he said. He’s gotten calls. He’s gotten calls from Carl Edwards saying, “Hey, put this guy in the car.” Several others as well, he’s got opportunities to put a driver in there. I think it really comes down to how Kurt is going to approach this. The bottom line is; this is Kurt Busch’s last chance. He does not have another leg to stand on. He’s damaged so many things for his career right now. It even goes back to what James Finch told me about his crew, he said he’s going to make demands of Kurt, and if he doesn’t meet those demands, he’s going to be out of the ride. He’s tired of Kurt Busch cursing his team on the radio. He said, ‘To tell you the truth. If he does that again, he’s not only going to be out of a ride, but one of my crew members has the permission to take a crescent wrench upside his head.’
Byrnes: Wow. Strong words. If in fact Kurt doesn’t say what James wants to hear, where does Kurt go?
Dillner: Kurt has the Nationwide stuff with his brother right now, but it goes back to that sponsor thing, that goes back to what James was saying, who else is going to want Kurt Busch at this point? He has to resurrect his career, his personality, and do some right things to be able to right all of these wrongs that he’s done. That’s going to be a tough row to hoe right now.
Last Night’s NASCAR Race Hub on SPEED, hosted by Steve Byrnes, offered an interesting discussion on how the latest trouble for Kurt Busch may affect his relationship, and future, with his current car owner James Finch and Phoenix Racing.
The Sporting News NASCAR writer, Bob Pockrass, a guest on last night’s show, along with SPEED NASCAR reporter Bob Dillner talked about how everything may play out. Here is what each had to say.
Bob Pockrass, The Sporting News NASCAR Writer
Steve Byrnes: James Finch (Busch’s car owner) was quoted again today saying that they were going to have a ‘Come to Jesus’ meeting – his words not mine – with Kurt. And he said, ‘It’s simple. He’s got to to quit wrecking race cars, and be nice to people. In your opinion, do you think he will continue – that being James Finch – with Kurt Busch after Pocono?
Bob Pockrass: First off, I haven’t talked to James because of the situation I am in – in this deal. So I don’t know exactly what he’s thinking. But, I think he will. I think if he didn’t want Kurt, Kurt would already be out the door.
Bob Dillner, SPEED NASCAR Reporter
Byrnes: Bob, you have had a very lengthy conversation with James Finch, the team owner of the No. 51, and I want to get back to what (NASCAR Analyst) Matt Clark said last night, Matt’s comment was, “I feel like we’re watching a great talent self-destruct right in front of us.” Lend us the perspective of how James Finch, the car owner, feels.
Bob Dillner: James said he’s a ‘loose cannon’ and he needs to change. James said that he has more problems than just on-track attitude that he has to deal with. James has not taken Kurt’s phone call. Kurt has called him several times and left messages.
Byrnes: …Okay, but Bob Pockrass mentioned that, that they aren’t going to meet until next Tuesday, why is that?
Dillner: Well, James wanted to give Kurt the time to really think about what happened. And he said he’s not going to take his phone calls, but he’s had several people call me (James Finch) on his behalf to say, ‘Hey, reach out to Kurt. He wants to talk to you. He wants to apologize.’ But he’s (Finch) has had enough of it, honestly. He said, ‘We are going to meet on Tuesday.’ And he used the same phrase with me; we’re going to have a ‘Come to Jesus’ meeting. Kurt is going to adhere to his rules; otherwise, he’s not going to be in that race car. It depends on Kurt. That’s exactly what James Finch said. If Kurt says the right things, I’ll (James Finch) put Kurt in the car for Michigan, and if he gets in the car, it will be by a race-by-race basis.
Byrnes: Their relationship to me has seemed tenuous because - they didn’t have a contract and I think they are okay with a handshake deal - I get it. But, at issue, Kurt has torn up at least 10-12 race cars, maybe more.
Dillner: James told me 14 race cars to date, and he’s completely demolished two or three of them, so…
Byrnes: … and they don’t have a sponsor.
Dillner: Yeah. Absolutely.
Byrnes: So my question to you is, in your conversation with James, does James feel like he can attract sponsorship with Kurt Busch as his driver?
Dillner: James actually brought that up in our conversation today, he said, “I don’t know if we’re going to be able to get a sponsor with Kurt Busch as my driver.” He admitted, “You know what, I knew Kurt Busch was using me. He had no place to go this year. He needed a ride. He came to me.” At the same time, “You know. I was kind of using Kurt Busch myself because I figured if I got a big-name driver in my car, I might be able to attract that sponsor. Honestly, right now, he’s damaged goods. I don’t know if anybody is going to want to sponsor my car with Kurt Busch in it.”
Byrnes: I texted back and forth last night with Steve Barkdoll, the general manager at Phoenix Racing and James Finch. I was, maybe not surprised, but his comment was, “We’ve been inundated by people who have called us.” So to me, I think James has options, meaning competent drivers in that seat, do you think they will move forward together once the suspension is lifted?
Dillner: I think James Finch is telling the truth. If Kurt Busch mouths off to him on Tuesday, Kurt Busch will not be in that 51 car come Michigan. James said that David Reutimann is a good driver; obviously he’s in the seat this week. They have thought about Brian Vickers, but Brian is off in Europe (Le Mans) and all over the place with his road racing right now, and maybe one other person he said. He’s gotten calls. He’s gotten calls from Carl Edwards saying, “Hey, put this guy in the car.” Several others as well, he’s got opportunities to put a driver in there. I think it really comes down to how Kurt is going to approach this. The bottom line is; this is Kurt Busch’s last chance. He does not have another leg to stand on. He’s damaged so many things for his career right now. It even goes back to what James Finch told me about his crew, he said he’s going to make demands of Kurt, and if he doesn’t meet those demands, he’s going to be out of the ride. He’s tired of Kurt Busch cursing his team on the radio. He said, ‘To tell you the truth. If he does that again, he’s not only going to be out of a ride, but one of my crew members has the permission to take a crescent wrench upside his head.’
Byrnes: Wow. Strong words. If in fact Kurt doesn’t say what James wants to hear, where does Kurt go?
Dillner: Kurt has the Nationwide stuff with his brother right now, but it goes back to that sponsor thing, that goes back to what James was saying, who else is going to want Kurt Busch at this point? He has to resurrect his career, his personality, and do some right things to be able to right all of these wrongs that he’s done. That’s going to be a tough row to hoe right now.
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