I think Kurt deserved to be sacked, if that’s what happened as opposed to him walking out. The abuse he’s given Roger Penske over the radio, one of the most respected owners in motorsports, and his crew chief has been disgusting all year. I’m surprised why Roger has put up with Kurt’s swearing, rants and sheer meltdowns on the radio for all these years.
I think the success of Brad Keselowski influenced the decision. Penske has one hungry, talented driver who has the upmost respect for Roger. Then, he has another driver who has fewer wins this year, finished lower in the standings and verbally abuses Roger on a frequent basis – the decision then seems pretty fair. It used to be that Kurt was top dog at Penske, now Kurt’s meltdowns don’t seem worth it.
But who is going to replace Kurt? The options don’t seem great for such a high calibre team. David Ragan, or the wrecking machine that is Brian Vickers? I’d give Sam Hornish Jr another shot; he’s driven well in the Nationwide Series this year for Penske – taking a win too.
