Guys that was NOT an ESPN interview. It was Kurt waiting for one. He is Pissed about his car, he doesn’t want to talk, Jerry says can I get a minute? Kurt says OK. Then he is made to wait. And he is venting, not on camera (he thinks) but he is made to look bad.
If you had any idea how many of our drivers have told Gary G. “How F…ing long are you gonna make me stand here? You wouldn’t believe it. If I recorded everything that was said before and after an interview I could retire. But the people I work with trust me and I do the same with them. If I have a bad day and tell my friend that “my boss is the dumbest SOB and a blind monkey could do a better job” he knows I am blowing off steam, and he isn’t going to call my boss and tell him what I said. I GUARANTEE you that Dr. Punch, doesn’t hold a grudge against Kurt, he knows the pressures and the stresses Kurt is under that’s why he let him go. So he wouldn’t explode on camera and look bad to the world. I have many times, told guys “I’ll catch you later” and given them a chance to cool down. That’s what Jerry was doing for Kurt. And I’m sure Kurt has thanked him for it.
Have you ever slammed down a phone and said to yourself “that’s the dumbest F…ing guy on the planet” or read an email and said “Are these F…ing morons for real?
I ask you this, if I put a camera on you, at work, all day every day would you want me to pick out the part where you were blowing off steam to show the word what kind of person you are? I know I wouldn’t.
Alan
Excellent points Alan! However this isn't exactly an isolated incident. How about lying about ever saying something and then tearing up the quote sheet in the media center during interviews? Really classy. All that after having to be restrained from going after another reporter after the race. There is ALWAYS someone watching and thanks to cell phone video cameras, always someone able to record anything at anytime. If it wasn't so uncalled for, Roger Penske wouldn't have said it's being dealt with internally, and both wouldn't have to have put out press releases apologizing today.
Kurt Busch tirade at Jerry Punch: UPDATES: During Sunday's Ford 400 at Homestead, analyst Jerry Punch tried to interview Kurt Busch after the driver was forced out of the race with transmission problems. What resulted was a profanity-laced tirade by Busch who didn't want to wait until the ESPN control booth threw it to Punch. In the end, Punch decided he had enough and walked away from Busch telling his producers, "never mind, never mind."(USA Today)(11-22-2011)
UPDATE: Penske Racing extends its apologies to Dr. Jerry Punch, our media partners and our sponsors and fans for Kurt Busch's inappropriate actions in Homestead on Sunday. These actions do not represent Penske Racing and are inconsistent with the company's standards for behavior, respect for others and professionalism. This matter is being reviewed internally with no further comment at this time.(Penske Racing)(11-22-2011)
UPDATE 2: Kurt Busch Statement: "Unfortunately, our result in the season-ending race at Homestead on Sunday was not what we had hoped for as a team. In my frustration with the loss of my transmission early in the race, I let my emotions get the better of me. I regret having done this and apologize to the sponsors of Penske Racing , to NASCAR, its fans, to the media and in particular, Dr. Jerry Punch."(Tom Roberts PR)(11-22-2011)
Also if you pay attention when the video starts Dr. Punch makes a comment about this issue possibly affecting Tony Stewart, then the get the F... out of my face was to the camera guy.. followed with the, it's still there.., after all the time he could have just said - "I decline comment" and walked away. It wouldn't have been the first time, and nobody had a gun to his head making him stand there.
