#29-Kevin Harvick met with media at Phoenix International Raceway and discussed the Kyle Busch situation among other things, the transcript in part:
Q) AS THE TEAM OWNER DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY KYLE BUSCHâS ACTIONS LAST WEEK AT TEXAS, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW ITâS BEEN HANDLED FROM NASCARâS STANDPOINT AS WELL AS THE SPONSOR STANDPOINT?
Harvick: âFrom a team owner standpoint, it was expensive. I think as you look back at the whole situation, the hardest part is that was the last time Ron Hornaday will race for a championship? Thatâs the part that bothers me the most. Itâs pretty common that people know that I donât care for Kyle regardless of whether he is in trouble or out of trouble, but thatâs the guy (Hornaday) I feel like has taken the blunt of everything that happened last week. As far as the way it was handled, itâs not my situation. Itâs not something that I feel like I need to weigh-in my opinion on, whether it was too much or not enough; itâs just unfortunate for Ron more than for anybody. And I think as you went through the week, hearing the phone calls that were made to Ron from Kyle at the first part of the week and trying to give him the #18 truck ride for next year and all the things that he tried to do, he knew how wrong it was, hopefully.â
Q) INAUDIBLE
Harvick: âYeah, as far as I know, (team manager) Rick Wren called Ron and offered him the #18 truck for next year. At first it started just with him calling Ron trying to get Ron to call NASCAR so he wouldnât lose his job. That was how all that progressed.â(Team Chevy)(11-12-2011)
