If It Happens, This Won't End Well

Paging through the news pages today and came across an item that had me scratching my head.

Apparently, Richard Petty Motorsports is thinking about putting Kurt Busch into the King’s No. 43 Ford for 2012.

Yeah, I said it. Whether it happens or not is anyone’s guess, but it’s been reported that way.

OK, let’s break this down. Kurt Busch has a championship on his mantle (provided he hasn’t gotten ticked and broken the trophy) and he’s one of the top 10 or 12 drivers in the sport right now regardless of what you might think of him. RPM’s team standing, sorry to say, is not that high.

I am, was and always will be a fan and admirer of Richard Petty. I confess to having a severe case of hero worship when he’s around. That said, he’s had it rough as a team owner, and I would like nothing more than to see the 43 in Victory Lane again.

He might could get there with Busch behind the wheel, just as Marcos Ambrose did for the King at Watkins Glen this year. But at what cost?

The King doesn’t hold much with blaspheming, disrespect or general profanity, and what got Busch out of the No. 22 at Penske Racing? It was all of the above, plus a healthy dose of sarcasm, attitude and other not-so-savory traits. How long do you think the King is going to put up with that, no matter how many times he wins?

About the first time Kurt takes the mask off and melts down the in-car radio, I’d be willing to bet that the King will order the car parked, put that long index finger in KuBu’s chest and tell him to get lost as fast as he can go.

And what of AJ Allmendinger, who gave the 43 as good a ride as it’s had in a few years on the way to 15th place in the points? To be bus-chucked for Busch is something the California fireplug would not appreciate, and well he shouldn’t.

I just can’t see Jack Roush supplying cars and engines for Kurt Busch ever again. If it’s a business deal, so be it, but I think the Mad Hatter would eschew that relationship to keep former driver Busch out of his stuff.

I don’t know if it’s going to happen, but if it does, I can’t see it ending well for anyone.