It appears the bad blood that existed between Rusty Wallace and Ryan Newman as teammates at Penske Racing isn’t gone.
Friday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Wallace said the perception that Newman and team owner Roger Penske mutually agreed to part ways next season was inaccurate. Instead, Wallace claims Newman was let go by Penske because of criticism toward the team for its performance this season.
Told of Wallace’s claims, Newman stood by his statements and questioned Wallace’s motives for saying what he did.
“He didn’t leave [Penske],” Wallace said Friday. “… Roger Penske called Ryan Newman up to his office and said, ‘I don’t need your services next year.’ Ryan Newman didn’t come to him and say, ‘I’m leaving.’ That’s exactly how it went down.”
Newman disputed that version of events.
“I don’t know what Rusty’s grounds are, or what he’s trying to prove by saying that,” Newman said. “That wasn’t the case - point blank. Roger and I decided mutually to not continue and it was more my decision than it was his, I would say. I’ve said our goals didn’t align and for that reason and for that reason alone we decided not to continue after 2008.”
- Harold Holly new crew chief for Steve Wallace
- Mike Wallace in the No 88 for Talladega
- Wallace to sub for Rudd again at Kansas
- Kenny Wallace to the No 88?
- Wallace to drive Germain’s No 7 Nationwide entry
Every week my respect for Rusty gets lower and lower…..
I never liked rusty was glad he retired then espn hired him makes me sick.
LOL Rusty will do anything to get some attention, maybe this is like the way rusty got fired from espn who dale jarrett took over
Me wrote:
Thats for Sure.
l0l
Man, Rusty needs to stay out of their business. Rusty, you retired dude, get over it! As for Ryan - Good luck with SHR!!!!
rusty was really out of line with this one, i wonder how hell face roger now, they still have business dealings between the two.
Rusty shut up you old bag! and that’s putting it nicely. Ryan has every right to criticize the team they stink this year. I agree Rusty is a conceited windbag who wants to be the center of attention and is mad DJ took his job! Get over it cause DJ is classy and you are not! Your two brothers got all of the class and your son has more than you do!
Rusty is still a bitter little b**ch
Shawn wrote:
No he was Fired.
See this accusing people of being fired things works both ways, and if I were Ryan I’d accuse Rusty that he is lying about his retirement and that it was a forced one and that Roger fired him. Just to see how Rusty likes it when people smear his name.
jeez, I cant figure Rusty out, when he was at Rogers he didnt get along with Jeremy either. oh well no big deal.
ROWDY BUSH wrote:
I dont know where you heard that Rusty was fired because he is still with ESPN, they just changed the rules for him so that he can own a Cup team.
Rustys just a cry baby , always has been. When they were both at Penske , Ryan was winning and Rusty wasnt and an insider told me that Rusty was always stirring up trouble between the 2 and 12 teams because he wasnt THE MAN at Penske anymore. He was a good driver , but not so much in the great person catagory. I’ve been stood up all 3 times I’ve waited in line to get his autograph.9 total hours waiting in line , and he never shows up Just another has been.
rusty is a TOOL…he sucked as a driver….SUCKED worse as an analyst….and now he sucks big time as an owner…just drop of of NASCAR period..and shut up…no one likes u…good god
The fact that Penske immediately issued a denial speaks volumes here. As is often the case, Rusty doesn’t know what the hell he is talking about. He owes both Penske and Newman a public apology, at onc.
.
Who knows what goes on in Wallace’s mind, or what motivation he would have for making such a stupid and false statement? Perhaps Rusty is mre than a little bitter about a career that showed such early promise, but ultimately must be considered a disappointment for his failure to win another championship. And now? Just another old guy whose mouth works a lot harder than his brain.
rusty is probably mad cause the focus that was on him from so long as the focal point of the wallace family has gone to his brothers mike and kenny and his niece kristy, all of which have far better attitudes then that idot rusty,
im actually glad we dont have to listen to rusty no more on espn, its bad enough we have listen to those other ididots on there, hopefully DJ well do a better job then the lame duck wallace, next thing you know rusty is going to want to sing the national anthem at teh brickyard or drop the green
Ryan Newman will not let this crap interfear with his racing.
Is Wallace (Rusty) going for the politcal role. Is he friends
with Al Gore? Or dose he not have better things to do?
Rusty is just trying stir up some more mess.
maybe rusty has a donald trump fantasy and just wanted to say your fired, instead of newman he should say that to his son, that kid has hot everything on the track but the pace car, and the only reason that is, because by the time it comes out hes usually the reason for the caution
Rusty needs a lonnnnggg vacation…he is annoying when he announces because he thinks he knows it all and he does not…..Ryan will be just fine as he always was when they raced fo the same owner…Rusty is a bitter old man and that is sad.
GO RYAN!!
Like him or not, Rusty has had a great career. A Cup title and close to 60 wins in the series are a lot better than those of other so called legends. I do not always agree with his opinion but there might be some truth to his story. When Rusty quit driving, Newman quit winning (until this past Daytona 500). Newman also went through a few crew chiefs at the same time too. Rusty and his guys shared info with the 12 team. They (12) quit sharing info with Rusty because they thought he talked too much. Rusty does talk a lot. That’s what this topic is all about. Years ago someone did a survey on Rusty and his whining. They discovered for all the whining and bitching he did, he was right about 85% of the time. That’s huge. That’s why I think there is some truth to the Newman firing story. Could Rusty have been a little more tactful or discreet? Yes. But I believe for some stupid reason, Newman and Rusty will always have some animosity towards each other. Newman lost respect for Rusty and Rusty resents Newman for doing so.
I would love to see Newman level Rusty just one time!! Rusty ranks right up there with Roush and Bruton as the most hated people in NASCAR! GIVE EM HELL NEWMAN!!
Maybe newman should take a page out of his possible future owners page and shove him or RIP his headsset off, i personally who love to see newman know rustys wig off his head, i would hate to see newman get makeup all over his knuckles though