lol

"Obviously, something has changed," SHR competition director Greg Zipadelli said Friday. "Gene Haas (team co-owner) is obviously a partner and started this many years ago. He has always liked Kurt. We had talked about Kurt last year, (about) putting him in the No. 39. Things just didn't work out.

"It's really nothing that Ryan did wrong. I mean, he's done a great job, he's a good guy, heck of a driver. This just kind of got sprung on us 14 days ago or less. It's kind of all come down (recently). Gene just showed some interest and having the ability to put something together. Without getting into a ton more details, that is really all it is. It's something we are working on. I don't know that it will all come together. It's going to take an awful lot. It is kind of late."

That's right, sportsman is always right - or so he thinks.

Here's the deal, I don't gossip. I was told in confidence of Kurt Busch's plans, a few weeks before any of this became public knowledge.

So, there you have Stewart Haas Racing's explanation of why Newman got the hook - he couldn't capitalize on the bad luck of his other competitors, even though he's always had GOOD equipment to drive - and why they're going to do their best to put Busch into one of their cars next year.

Just the facts.