It appears Kurt Busch’s #22 Penske Racing team is in store for a shakeup in the offseason. Steve Addington, Busch’s crew chief since the start of the 2010 Sprint Cup season, is not expected to return to the team in 2012. Asked if he would comment on Addington’s status with Penske beyond the 2011 season, organization spokesman Jonathan Gibson said, âWe make it a practice to not comment on rumors and speculation. Our team’s focus is on winning this weekend’s race and, ultimately, the championship.â(Charlotte Observer)(10-14-2011)
UPDATE: Steve Addington, the crew chief for 2004 Sprint Cup champion Kurt Busch, denied published reports that he plans to leave Penske Racing after this season. Addington said before Friday’s first practice at Charlotte Motor Speedway the reports didn’t have “a leg to stand on” and that it was written off “pure rumors and speculation.” Asked if he would be at Penske Racing in 2012 Addington told ESPN.com: “That’s the game plan.” Team owner Roger Penske, in Las Vegas for the IndyCar Series finale, told ESPN.com’s Terry Blount that Addington has not talked to him about leaving. “He has done a fantastic job for us and I hope to keep him here long term,” Penske told Blount. “I don’t know how this stuff gets started. But it’s unfortunate because it’s a big distraction to the team in the middle of the Chase.”(ESPN)(10-15-2011)
