#78- Furniture Row Racing general manager Joe Garone confirmed today that talks have taken place between the team and driver Kurt Busch, but said those conversations are not a result of dissatisfaction with the team’s current driver, Regan Smith. ‘I have talked to Kurt Busch,’ said Garone, ‘but it was about a team we don ‘t even have yet. We are working diligently on getting a second (Sprint Cup) car for next year, and I ‘m trying to get my hands around some of the guys that will be available going onto 2013. I wanted to make an introduction to Kurt, and just let him know what our plans are for the future.’ Garone said he believes Smith and Busch would make good teammates, saying, ‘Kurt and Regan have worked well together on the superspeedways in the past. They have drafted well together and talked well back and forth. Adding a second team would be a major boost for Furniture Row Racing, and we ‘re all working hard to try and make that happen.’(Godfather Motorsports)(5-3-2012)
UPDATE: Furniture Row Racing has met with Kurt Busch, but not in an effort to replace driver Regan Smith. ‘I met with Kurt about starting a second team for next year,’ said Joe Garone, FRR’s general manager. Since FRR made its debut in 2005, it became clear to team owner Barney Visser that the Denver-based organization would eventually have to expand to two teams to compete with the NASCAR powerhouses. ‘It’s nice that people want to talk and that they ‘re showing interest in me driving for them. And there have been other teams interested. It’s very early. (Phoenix Racing team owner James) Finch knows and the rest of the team knows that I ‘m a free agent. But I ‘m committed to racing the entire year here at Phoenix Racing and (will) talk with whoever wants to talk about racing in the future.’ said Busch. Although an investor expressed interest in partnering with FRR, that deal fell through. However, Furniture Row has been mentioned as one of the top candidates for the Dodge Motorsports program. The sticking point in finalizing the deal appears to be which company will build the Dodge engines. Roger Penske currently builds Dodge engines for his teams. However, with Penske Racing moving to Fords for 2013, it’s unclear what the future of Dodge’s engine program will be. What is missing from the Dodge equation, however, is a marquee driver. Certainly, Busch would fill that void.(Fox Sports)(5-5-2012)
