Sources indicate that Ginn Racing may already have been removed from Kyle Busch's short list of potential employers for 2008 and beyond. If so, that would be disappointing for Jay Frye, CEO and general manager of Ginn Racing.
"We would certainly be interested in speaking with Kyle, yes," Frye said prior to last Sunday's Citizens Bank 400 at Michigan International Speedway. "All this just happened last week. I think the dust needs to settle, and hopefully within the next couple of weeks we'll be able to get with his group and see where we're at."
Explaining why he would like to add Busch to the Ginn stable of Cup drivers that currently includes part-timers Mark Martin and Regan Smith, and veteran full-timers Joe Nemechek and Sterling Marlin, Frye added: "He's 22 years old and he's already been out here a couple of years. He's one of the best Cup drivers out here today. So he's a phenomenal talent. We think he's a great kid. So the upside is huge. The potential is huge. And when you speak of potential that means what is yet to come and he's really, really good right now."
Of course when someone is available and teams are pursuing him, you hear all kinds of stuff floating around the garage. One of the rumors making the rounds in Michigan was that Ginn Racing already had offered Busch a job. Frye said that wasn't true, although he added that he would like to make it happen.
He said the plan for next year is to again pair Martin with another young driver in one car, while Smith, Martin's part-time partner this year, moves up full time from the Busch Series to the Cup Series. Future plans for Nemechek and Marlin are still being formulated, Frye added, although he did say Marlin wants to cut back to a part-time ride next season as well and the team is still discussing "how it would work, if he could or not, and that's still kind of up in the air."
Most of Frye's recent focus has been on trying to catch Busch's attention -- sort of like the young up-and-coming sophomore at the high-school prom trying to land at least one dance with the most popular senior, where he can pitch the seemingly outrageous idea of beginning a long-term romance.
"There is no truth to the rumor that we've offered him a job. We certainly want to offer him one, yes. We certainly want to talk with them," Frye said of Busch. "We think between him and Regan, if we could match them up as two young 22-, 23-year-old guys that would definitely set the program up for a long time. Mark would be a phenomenal mentor for those two as we go forward. It could be a very exciting prospect."
Frye said Ginn Racing is poised to go to a four-car Cup operation next year whether Busch comes aboard or not.
"We've been preparing for the Busch team, along with Regan, to graduate into the Cup Series," Frye said. "It would just be a Cup team vs. a Busch team. We're already a four-car team. It just happens that one of the teams is a Busch team right now."
Personally I think Kyle wants to go to DEI, run Childress power with sponsorship from Bud and shove it in Hendrick's and Jr.'s faces!
This does not sound good for my man Marlin. If Martin is paired with a young driver it will be Karl Kinser. Then you would have Nemechek and Smith. Signing Busch or any other full time driver would leave Marlin out of a ride. However, realistically speaking, being forced to retire might be best for Marlin.
Martin retiring is a good idea again and again.. Busch with Ginn. Hope he has money for wrecked cars figured into his budget with Kyle.. Kyle with DEI suggestion would be a good possibility if only to do as you have said. rub it in HMS and Jr.s face..
One thing I have noticed with HMS is the Duo of Gordon and Johnson do seem to have the better equipment while Casey and Kyle had to deal with the leftovers or hand me down cars in most cases....
I think Sterling spoke himself out of a job next year. He should have kept his part time desire in house. By letting it out he must be thinking someone else might offer him a part time ride if he can't work it out at Ginn. Who would? Unless, he pulls off a shocking win this year, he will no longer be this fans favorite driver, even if he does "run" again.
Last edited by 14Falcons on June 23rd at 10:29 PM.
alittle mentoring from mark is exactly what kyle needs man could you imagine kyle sans his bad habits alot of old timers say he drives like david pearson frye is smart to keep mark around the young guns i see a real difference in rousches stable without marks presence one can see that mark leads by example nice piece falcons
kyle drives every lap like it was the last lap and he's tied for 1st too hard into the corner and controlled mayhem out every lap reguardless of the setup good or bad !!! it dosent matter put kyle in the seat and he will drive the wheels off of it literaly !!!!every lap!!!! kind of like david pearson did heck pearson,,richmond thats awfully good company for a young gun to be likened with
Kyle should go to DEI amd win a championship with them and man what a storie that would be. Yes Dale Jr is my driver and it sounds like its putting him down. DEI is a great team with some little things to change to make it better. Great blog,, keep it up and you should get some readers . LMAO .. I had to put that !! Takecare and Godbless Falcon.
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