1. Kyle Busch Intentionally Wrecks Ron Hornaday, Jr. at Texas Motor Speedway

Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Traxxas Toyota, collides with Ron Hornaday Jr., driver of the #33 OneMain Financial Chevrolet, during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series WinStar World Casino 350k at Texas Motor Speedway on November 4, 2011 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Kyle Busch has caused a lot of trouble this season. One of the most memorable moments for the younger Busch occurred on November 4, 2011, while he was driving in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. During the first caution, Busch intentionally wrecked Ron Hornaday, Jr. and forced him out of the race, ending any hopes of winning the 2011 championship the driver had. NASCAR stepped up and parked Busch for the remainder of the race weekend at Texas Motor Speedway and fined him $50,000. Parking Busch caused NASCAR fans around the country to be split. Should Busch have been parked for the weekend? That question is still debated today.

2. Kurt Busch Gets Fired from Penske Racing

NOVEMBER 19: Kurt Busch, former driver of the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Dodge, sits in his car in the garage during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19, 2011 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Kurt Busch was just as controversial as his baby brother this season. During the final race of the NASCAR Sprint Cup season at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Busch’s No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Dodge had mechanical trouble and he was forced to exit the race early. Busch made an obscene gesture that was captured on the ESPN cameras, and then he ended up going off on a verbal and obscene tirade to Dr. Jerry Punch who had come to interview the driver for ESPN’s coverage. The tirade was captured on a cell phone camera by a fan and later went viral on YouTube. Busch was fined by NASCAR and later fired by Penske Racing. As of today, Kurt Busch as no ride for the 2012 season.

3. Red Bull Racing Leaves NASCAR

Kasey Kahne, driver of the #4 Red Bull Toyota, and Brian Vickers, driver of the #83 Red Bull Toyota, race Juan Pablo Montoya, driver of the #42 Energizer Chevrolet, and Jamie McMurray, driver of the #1 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Chevrolet, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Good Sam Club 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 23, 2011 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR)

In June, Red Bull Racing owners announced that they planned to sell the team or shut down after the final race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The team had been the home of  Brian Vickers and Kasey Kahne in 2011, as well as A.J. Allmendinger in 2007, and Scott Speed from 2008-2010. 2009 was by far their best season in NASCAR. Vickers and the No.83 won their first race for the organization at Michigan International Speedway and got them into the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Kahne won the team’s last race at Phoenix International Raceway in the second to last race of the 2011 season. Although Kahne has joining Hendrick Motorsports in 2012, Vickers is without a ride for next season.

4. Darian Grubb Fired from Stewart-Haas Racing After Winning the 2011 Sprint Cup

Tony Stewart (R), driver of the #14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet, and crew chief Darian Grubb (L) pose with the championship trophy after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford 400 and the 2011 Series Championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 21, 2011 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

While Darian Grubb was the crew chief for the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion, it came as a shocker to fans that he was actually being fired after the season. Grubb, who told the media after winning the championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway, had been notified of his impending unemployement at the Charlotte race in October. In the awkward post race interview, Grubb said he was “pleading” to be given the rest of the season. After leaving SHR, Grubb landed at Joe Gibbs Racing to be the crew chief for Denny Hamlin, whose crew chief Mike Ford was fired.

5. Trevor Bayne Wins the Daytona 500

Trevor Bayne lifts the Harley J. Earl trophy with the No. 21 crew in victory lane after winning the 53rd Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR)

The youngest driver to win the Great American Race gave the historic Wood Brothers team its fifth Daytona 500, the first since 1976 with David Pearson.  In just his second Sprint Cup start, the 20 year old Bayne stunned NASCAR’s biggest names with a thrilling overtime win holding off Carl Edwards. ”Our first 500, are you kidding me?” said Bayne, who needed directions to Victory Lane. “Wow. This is unbelievable.” The victory for NASCAR pioneers Leonard and Glen Wood ended their 10 year losing streak.

2011 is in the books as far as NASCAR goes. I wonder what is in store for 2012. What were some of your favorite NASCAR memories? Let us know!

Scott Speed speaks with Josh Wise during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Good Sam Club 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 22, 2011 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Jeff Zelevanksy/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Scott Speed has found a new home for the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Leavine Family Racing announced on Tuesday that Speed has joined the race team for a 15-race schedule in the No. 95 Ford. Speed spent the 2011 season with Whitney Motorsports, where he made 13 races in the No. 46.

Speed, who is from California, came to NASCAR from Formula One in 2010 racing full-time with Red Bull Racing, earning two top-10 finishes and leading 21 laps. Next season will be his fifth in the series.

“We are pleased to have Scott Speed join our team,” team owner Bob Leavine said in an press release. “We, as a team, want to give Scott the equipment and the resources he needs to win – and that is what I believe he will do for us in return.’

Speed has made 18 starts in the Nationwide Series and 16 starts in the Camping World Truck Series over the past four years. He posted a Truck Series win at Dover International Speedway in 2008. His best Nationwide finish came last year on the road course at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve where he placed sixth. Speed earned his first career pole in the series in 2009.

The 28-year-old driver is thrilled to have the opportunity to compete with Leavine Family Racing.

“I am excited to team up with Bob Leavine and his guys at Leavine Family Racing,” Speed said. They have a solid group of guys working on the team and I think it will be a real fun deal. Our goal is to build this race team to become competitive. We know it will be baby steps, but we are all excited to get it rolling.”