Kurt Busch and the 2012 NASCAR Silly Season Surprises

1 of 9

Jerry Markland/Getty Images

The NASCAR silly season started early this offseason, and Kurt Busch wasn't the only big change for the upcoming year.

There have been major changes for other drivers, crew chiefs and teams.

Let's take a look at some of the other surprises that will certainly affect the sport in 2012.

The Abandonment of the No. 6 Car by Roush Fenway

John Harrelson/Getty Images

With no sponsor in sight, it looks like the No. 6 team will be running at the Daytona 500 and then shutting down.

This will be the first time the car number will not be on the track full time since 1981.

This is such a surprise because the No. 6 car is locked into the top 35 in owners points, and the No. 6 was always the flagship of the Roush organization.

Red Bull Racing CLOSED

Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Red Bull Racing has closed its NASCAR shops effective December 1st.

Both the No. 83 and No. 4 are locked in the top 35 in owners points.

Just when it looked like Red Bull Racing had turned it around, it closed its doors.

Brian Vickers: Looking for a Ride

John Harrelson/Getty Images

Just after Brian Vickers returned from a scary health situation, he finds himself out of work.

Red Bull Racing has closed, and at this point in the offseason rides are filling up.

Vickers is still in the unemployment line.

Kurt Busch Finds a Ride With...Phoenix Racing?

Jerry Markland/Getty Images

One of the biggest surprises of the silly season is not Kurt Busch finding another ride—it's that he found it with Phoenix Racing.

The team is in the top 35 in owners points for the 2012 season, so he is locked into the first five races at least.

Penske Finds a New Driver...AJ Allmendinger

Jerry Markland/Getty Images

With the Penske/Kurt Busch split, AJ Allmendinger has found a ride in the No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil car.

Allmendinger showed a lot of improvement last year. We will see if that continues with the Penske organization.

RCR Goes Back to 3 Cars

Todd Warshaw/Getty Images

After having all four cars finish in the top 20 in points at the end of 2011, Richard Childress has not renewed Clint Bowyer's contract and dropped the No. 33 car from the Sprint Cup.

It seems as if four cars will never be the mainstay at Richard Childress Racing.