September 12th, 2011 
Journo File this under moments of the absurd. In the midst of setting the field for the Chase and a wild one at Richmond, it was a very angry Kurt Busch who was catching everyone’s attention.
Following Saturday night’s race Busch got into a dispute with not one, but two members of the NASCAR press corps after they asked questions about the ability of Busch or Jimmie Johnson to win the championship given their simmering feud.
NASCAR.com’s Joe Menzer was first up.
After Busch began to walk away Menzer shouted at him that it was a legitimate question given what occurred on track between the two. Busch in turn charged back at Menzer shouting obscenities – his crew members restrained him.
The Associated Press’ Jenna Fryer was up next.
The actions of a 32-year-old or a 12-year-old? I’ll let you be the judge.
Once known for having a more combative demeanor, Busch has, at least in his public persona, been mellowing in recent years. His radio traffic – and apparently this incident – is a notable exception.
When Kurt’s unhappy in the car he’s sure to let the crew know. Two years ago at the spring race in Martinsville, Busch, upset about how his car was running, got into it with his team owner Roger Penske, notably calling the billionaire businessman and titan of motorsports, “dude.”
The confluence of the outburst over the weekend and the regular berating of people over the radio present an interesting dichotomy of Kurt Busch. Publicly he puts on a good face and hawks Pennzoil – in less public situations the Kurt Busch of old is alive and well.
It’s fair that Busch’s blood pressure was up after the race Saturday night. And I think it’s fair that he wasn’t in the mood to answer certain questions. But behaving like a petulant child makes him look bad, and puts his sponsor in a bad position. It was incredibly unfortunate behavior from a former champion.
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I’m not surprised. Kurt and Kyle both exhibit this behavior on a regular basis. Nobody questions their driving talent. But is talent enough to drive at this level? Isn’t some maturity and sponsorship awareness required?
Think about it, Kurt’s marriage failed, he lost Miller Lite as a sponsor, and his little brother is showing him up in almost every way possible? His life sucks in his mind. You see him at the track and you can just tell he wants the lime light that the big boys are getting. I think next he will be out at Penske. Roger is a very smart man and won’t let Kurt hurt his sponsors. Sponsors are to hard to find in this day and age.
Not surprising, I wouldn’t be shocked if he ends up taking the 48 out somewhere in the Chase. Kurt is owed a lot of payback from Hendrick. Don’t forget how he wiped out Gordon last year at Martinsville.
I’m surprised Roger Penske puts up with this crap! He must be getting senile in his old age.
I don’t understand why in this sport and only in this sport that reporters have access to the drivers without giving them a minute to compose themselves. You’d never see this is baseball or football. All other sports give their athletes some space. I know if I was that competitive and had been wrecked in a race then I’d be pissed too. The last thing I’d want is someone sticking a camera in my face. Everyone wants to win an no one really wants to talk when they don’t. Give these boys a break
A leopard’s spots never change…
@James harkin:
the occurrence with Jenna Fryer was at least 30 minutes after the race in a scheduled post race press conference.
as for the other one, reporter access is nothing new to these driver, they know how it is going to play out after they get out of the car. I understand your point, but don’t find it to be a feasible reason to go off on someone like KuBu did
First of all, James harkin has it right. I really dig that NASCAR has made a point of allowing interviews seconds after a heated race. But you have to take the comments with a grain of salt. If I were judged by my actions when I’m at my most stressed and angry moments, you’d think I was the biggest prick in the world.
Secondly, again- I appreciate that NASCAR allows fans to listen in to all the radio chatter. But again, take it with a grain of salt. A driver is racing at 150 MPH+, in a race where inches count. He’s not going to be polite. Nothing wrong with that. When I’m under the gun at my job, I’m not exactly polite. In fact I can be a downright asshole. But after all is said and done, and I’m more composed- I’m a good person that most people would enjoy sitting at a bar chatting with.
LOL, after that exchange I think it’s pretty clear exactly who is in who’s head.
Sad, because KuBu can drive a car and he’s a real racer. The guy could win another championship if he didn’t let people get in his head and he would stay focused on the right things.
In the car, it’s anyone’s game and the driver can say anything he wants to anyone he wants and short of telling your team owner where he can put his Pennzoil, there should be no criticism from anyone outside the team.
But I’m tired of the temper tantrum business. Really, I am. Anger and frustration will spill over from the track and if guys want to have at it with each other in words or fists then, well, HAVE AT IT!
But NASCAR journalists are doing their job. Lately THEY are becoming the targets for these baby boys who drive BIG FAST CARS but can’t ratchet down the adrenaline when they hop out.
I am talking to YOU Tony, and YOU, KURT. Believe me, I don’t need to see your big fat pouty faces every week griping about the questions you are asked. There are 41 other drivers who would kill for the publicity you get. You DO NOT take out your anger on the press for asking questions, not in this sport. Yes other sports give their athletes time to cool down. That is great. NASCAR does not. That does not give drivers the right to verbally assault the first person in their path, which happens to be a journalist.
This started for me back when Kurt brings a new woman into Victory Circle, kisses her and then tears the NASCAR press for asking for digging into his personal life.
Insiders, you have hit a nerve with me, and I have had it with these guys. No longer am I going to believe that the nice guy in the motor home interview is Tony Stewart, or the composed, articulate guy talking on pit road is Kurt Busch. It’s a facade, an act for the sponsors. These guys are punks.
Makes me wonder how many more drivers are just facades.
Bottom line, take your anger out on your competition, not the NASCAR press.
And yeah, I do feel better letting that out…
I think the reporters are provoking the drivers to be honest. It’s no secret that Kurt is wound a little tight. It’s also obvious to anyone who watched the interview with him and JJ as they got out of their cars that his comments were selectively reported to JJ in an attempt to provoke Johnson. You reporters are part to blame for this. You are inventing news. Does Kurt act like a jerk sometimes? Sure. Do reporters act like jerks sometimes? Definitely.
Personally I like to see him getting angry. He drives better when he’s not on the NASCAR leash. Oh…to the comment above: I don’t believe for a moment he will be out at Penske. Roger knew what he was getting and how to deal with him and your comment about him loosing the Miller Lite gig is completely wrong. Shell specifically wanted him and their deal is a much larger contract for Penske. He didn’t loose Miller, he got Shell.
he looks like an elv. his brother looks like an elv with hay fever
I can see both sides of this since I used to report a certain sport. Not defending Kurt, but sometimes circumstances get reported that never happened. I read where Kyle put his hands up to his ears so not to have to listen to the rift. However, I watched the video over and over and I didn’t see that. In so many words JJ told Jr. he wrecked Kurt so Jr. could get the dog. Seems JJ is not so vanilla after all.
This question was just bait to get Busch fired up. Menzer was just trying to start controversy by asking if Jimmie or Kurt can win the chase. Can you ask a dumber question? Jimmie has won 5 in a row so I think he could win again, and I don’t expect Kurt to say no we don’t have a chance. I would have been pretty mad too if a reporter tried to bait me by asking something like this.
According to Jayski, KB apologized to both reporters. Think his publicist, or the Capt took exception w/ his behavior?
I’d say that JJ is inside Kurt’s head, not the other way around.