Scott Speed Is Out at Red Bull: Is He Out of NASCAR?

Scott Speed has been released from Red Bull Racing after becoming the odd man out.

Kasey Kahne will be behind the wheel of the No. 82 car, and Brian Vickers will return to drive the No. 83 for RBR in the 2011 season.

Speed was quoted on NASCAR.com as saying, "It will for sure be weird being a free agent."

The California native started driving go-karts and moved to open-wheel cars by age 18. He began a relationship with Red Bull Racing as a test driver. 

Speed debuted in Formula 1 during 2006 racing for Scuderia Toro Rosso. After two seasons, 28 starts and an absence of top 10 finishes, he was released from his F1 contract.

In 2008, Speed drove in the ARCA Series, where he won four times. He has also had top 10 finishes in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with one being a win.

Red Bull Racing released A.J. Allmendinger from his ride in the No. 84 car, and Speed made his NASCAR Sprint Cup debut in late 2008.

Speed's Cup statistics show three top 10s and an average finish of 27.7. This year he finished 30th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup point standings. Though the 27-year-old has demonstrated moments of promise behind the wheel, he has shown relatively poor performance in NASCAR's top tier of racing.

He may be a free agent for quite some time with few Cup team owners clamoring to sign Speed. It may be time for him to take a few steps back and try for a ride in the NASCAR Truck series or even the Nationwide series.

Scott Speed had a good relationship with Red Bull Racing, and that got him a Cup ride before he was ready. 

Could it be time for him to take a spin in an IndyCar and see if that may be the best venue to direct his racing career towards?