Kurt Busch, Penske Racing Agree to Part Ways

The Charlotte Observer's Jim Utter broke the news first late yesterday evening that Kurt Busch has been fired from Penske Racing by team owner Roger Penske. Officials with Penske Racing confirmed Utter's report but would only say that Kurt and the team "mutually agreed" to part ways, but not actually confirming the driver was fired. 

In a recent article here on Bleacher Report, I called for Penske to let Busch go in response to a season full of negativity and inappropriate behavior. Penske must have had enough of Busch's actions too, and sponsors Shell and Pennzoil likely put enough pressure on the team to let Kurt go.

Recently during the Sprint Cup Series awards banquet week in Las Vegas, Kurt announced he was seeing a sports psychologist. It seems his outreach for help came too late.

There are few rides available, if any, for next season with sponsorship being at such a premium at NASCAR's top level. That said, the Kurt Busch saga slides on for a little longer. 

Drivers without full-time Sprint Cup series rides for next season that entered races in 2011 include David Ragan, Brian Vickers, David Reutimann and Scott Speed.

According to SB Nation's Jeff Gluck, David Ragan has declined comment regarding the opening in the #22 slot for Penske, and he seems to be the most high profile available driver.