Busch (r) said he has had a conversation with one of the groups bidding for the teamGETTY IMAGES
NASCAR drivers Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch said that they have "had conversations with potential bidders" to buy the NFL Panthers, according to Marks & Rothhacker of the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER. Busch said, "I’m not the leader of it at all, but I have had a conversation, one conversation, with one of the groups that is interested in buying it. I’ve put my name in the hat just to kind of have a seat at the table, if you will, when it comes to what is going to happen next." Johnson said, "I don’t have anything legally kind of binding me to an offer that’s out there or any money invested. I would love to have a shot at it." Hornets investor and NASCAR team co-Owner Felix Sabates has previously said that he is "part of a group of businessmen, including current Panthers minority owners and NASCAR drivers, who are considering a bid" for the Panthers. A source said that the NASCAR drivers interested in joining the Sabates group "include Johnson, Busch, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr." The source added that NASCAR team owner Chip Ganassi, a business partner with Sabates, is "also interested, as well as musician Kid Rock" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 2/15). Meanwhile, CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora tweeted that former UFC co-Owner Frank Fertitta is heading "one of the groups pushing to purchase the Panthers." He would have to "divest casino holdings" (TWITTER.com, 2/13).
