Tryson calls decision to leave Penske personal and not related to Kurt Busch

Tryson leaving Penske Racing for personal reasons

LOUDON, N.H. — Crew chief Pat Tryson would not discuss his reasons for leaving Penske Racing at the end of this season, saying only that the decision has nothing to do with driver Kurt Busch.

Tryson is moving to Michael Waltrip Racing next year to crew chief for Martin Truex Jr. His impending departure was revealed last week, as the No. 2 team readied for the start to the Chase for the championship.

“The reason I came to Penske Racing was because of Kurt Busch, and the number one reason to stay at Penske Racing is Kurt Busch,” Tryson said Friday. “So my decision … had nothing to do with Kurt Busch. I had to do things for me, for my personal reasons.

“For things that I want to accomplish in my career that don’t have anything to do with who is driving the race car.”

Tryson did not elaborate on what factored into his decision.

“For me, the things that made the change worthwhile, I am not going to go into specifics,” he said. “I am not going to badmouth one place, or say good things about this one or that one. The only thing I am focused on is trying to win a championship and we’ll work on next year, next year.”

Busch has called the timing of Tryson’s decision unfortunate. Busch starts the Chase on Sunday at New Hampshire International Speedway seventh in the standings, and would have preferred racing for the title without questions of Tryson’s departure hanging over his team.

But Tryson said the team is focused on winning a title.

“Me and him are in this together to the end, and we’re going to try to win the championship because it means a lot to me,” Tryson said.