Domino effect: Busch’s services sought by teams

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (AP) — It won’t take Kyle Busch long to find a new job.

Cast aside so Hendrick Motorsports could make room for Dale Earnhardt Jr., Busch became NASCAR’s top free agent Wednesday when Junior took his ride.

“I think he’s got an amazing amount of talent [but] this Junior thing has stirred up the world,” car owner Rick Hendrick said. “If you move one domino in the top echelon of drivers, then you got a backfill all the way through.”

Ironically, Busch could very well end up replacing Earnhardt at DEI when all the seat swapping is done.

Earnhardt’s ride is one of the top available, and DEI officials have said they want to make a splash with Junior’s replacement. Their ideal driver would be a championship contender with a long career ahead of him, and Busch fits the bill.

The 22-year-old has four career wins, one this season, and made the Chase for the championship last year. He’s currently 10th in the standings and on pace for another berth in the Chase.

If DEI can hang onto sponsor Budweiser, which has been on Earnhardt’s car since 1999, the beer company could have a field day pitting Busch against older brother Kurt, who is sponsored by Miller Lite.

Reviled drivers

The Busch brothers are two of the most reviled drivers in NASCAR — they are booed almost every week — and could cash in commercially playing off that reputation while participating in a beer war.

Anheuser-Busch is keeping its options open, but its first choice appears to be staying aligned with Earnhardt.

“We look forward to exploring options with Hendrick Motorsports and JR Motorsports to continue Budweiser’s relationship with him as he enters this new stage of his racing career,” said Tony Ponturo, vice president of global media and sports marketing.

Should DEI not work out for Busch, there could be opportunities at Richard Childress Racing and Ginn Racing, teams that intend to expand to four cars next season.

Regardless of where he ends up, the move will be lateral — at best. Hendrick is easily the top team in NASCAR, with 10 wins through 14 races this season.

Hendrick said he wanted to extend Busch’s contract past 2008, but when word got out, other teams approached the driver with interest in signing him.

“He’s a young guy, and everyone tells you how great you are and says you’re not going to be the top dog there, you’ll be the top dog here, we’ll pay you whatever it’s going to take,” Hendrick said. “What would you do? How would you respond to that?”

So contract talks stalled, and Hendrick used the opportunity to pursue Earnhardt.

“It became pretty obvious to both of us that maybe a fresh start might be good for both of us,” Hendrick said.

Mutual decision

Busch spent Tuesday and Wednesday testing at the Milwaukee Mile, but issued a statement through his new management team that said he and Hendrick mutually agreed to part ways and he planned to finish the year in the No. 5 Chevrolet.

“I have tremendous respect for Mr. Hendrick and everyone at Hendrick Motorsports,” he said. “It’s where I grew up, and I have a lot of great memories. I kind of feel like I’m graduating.

“I’m excited about my future, and I know a lot of opportunities await because of what everyone at Hendrick did for me — on the track and off.”

Busch has had rocky moments during his Hendrick tenure, which began shortly before his 18th birthday. He’s hot-tempered, just like his brother, and has an aggressive driving style that has angered many veterans.

He’s feuded with two-time champion Tony Stewart, had run-ins with Casey Mears before the two became teammates, and wrecked Kurt in last month’s All-Star race.

He was also highly critical of the Car of Tomorrow after winning the first race in the new car earlier this season.

Hendrick said the incidents upset him, but not enough to fire the driver.

“Those things don’t make you happy, but we got by that,” he said. “We got past all that. When you have situations that happen, and I’m sitting a guy down and saying ‘Hey we don’t do things like that.’ And then someone over here is saying ‘Well, you don’t have to listen to that. You can be the No. 1 draft choice.’

“Kyle and I have a good relationship, and I’ve treated him ... not like a son, but trying to coach him.”