”
Roger Penske has been called many names in his racing and business career. But the iconic race car owner is more likely to be called “The Captain”. Penske owns Indy Cars, two NASCAR teams, Grand Am race cars, and is THE CAR to beat in the Indy Car circuit. His teams have won numerous Indianapolis 500’s and Indy Car championships with great driver the likes of Al Unser, Sr., Rick Mears, Danny Sullivan, Emerson Fittipaldi, as well as Al Unser, Jr.! Penske is also a very astute business man as well. His holdings are numerous including Detroit Diesel, Penske Truck Rentals, former owner of the California Speedway, Michigan International Speedway, Nazareth Speedway just to name a few businesses. So as you can his influence is felt throughout the businees world, and is a very respected entrepreneur. Roger Penske’s wealth has been estimated to be near ONE BILLION DOLLARS!!!!!
Well, there is a new 21st century name that his ace driver, Kurt Busch has hung on Mr. Penske.!! When things weren’t going so sterling for the Penske #2 Miller Lite Dodge during the later stages at Martinsville the radios got smoking hot!!
Kurt Busch (aka Ears Laid Back (ELB), lashed out at his team with this comment, “that was a stupid adjustment. I hope that we are really proud of ourselves. That was excellent. Our day is shot!”
“Do your best, we will be fine”, responded Penske.
“It is the most frustrating thing in the world to think that you think that we are better than we are.”, shot back Busch.
“If you didn’t blow yourself up, we’d be a lot better. You made a change, it didn’t work. All we hear is a bunch of stuff on the radio. Let’s get serious here, OK? You understand?”, radioed Penske in a rare show of anger.
The driver of the #2 Miller Lite Dodge came back with this most eloquent response, “10-4, DUDE,10-4!” I am sure that that frequency went eerily silent!!!! ELB just called his boss, Roger Penske, The Captain, ……..DUDE!!!!!!!!!!
Is this a sign that the Busch brothers arrogant characteristics have creeped back into ELB’s habit patterns???? Could the Penske-Busch marriage be in need of counseling? There was this sense that maybe Roger Penske had succeeded in grooming the 2004 Cup champion to be a grown-up!!! It appears to this reporter that, quite possibly, Kurt may be succeeding in getting his employer to look for another chauffeur for his BLUE DUECE!!
This not the first time that ELB went off on a tirade. Kurt had sharpened his tongue several times and aimed it directlt towards Jack Roush, when ELB worked there. That led, in the end, to his early departure from Roush Racing. Could this be inklings of things to come from the Penske team?
This reporter can’t wait for the next interview, either at the next Indy Car race or at Phoenix, with Roger Penske……THE DUDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If I were Mr. Penske, I would have asked him (Kurt) to park the car and politely turn in his uniform! Nothing more said.
Mr. Penske is a man of integrity and has been highly regarded as a man who looks out for all his employees with lots of tolerance. Kurt should respect that or quit!!! Go back to Roush if he can…???
Go #29 car !!!!!
Jerry,
I couldn’t have said it better!! I havea folow up post that I am working on as write this reply. I think that you will enjoy my further thohghts!!!!!!!!
If I were Mr. Penske, I would have asked him (Kurt) to park the car and politely turn in his uniform! Nothing more said.
Mr. Penske is a man of integrity and has been highly regarded as a man who looks out for all his employees with lots of tolerance. Kurt should respect that or quit!!! Go back to Roush if he can…???
Go #29 car !!!!!
Jerry,
I couldn’t have said it better!! I havea folow up post that I am working on as write this reply. I think that you will enjoy my further thohghts!!!!!!!!