Scott Speed

As if NASCAR doesn’t provide enough intensity on the track when cars are racing at speeds of 200 MPH or more around the circuits, and drivers pit their wits and grit against one another for the coveted NASCAR Sprint Cup, there is equally as much intensity off the track.

Scott Speed, the former driver for Red Bull Racing, who was released from his contract in November of 2011, and who was promptly replaced by Brian Vickers, filed suit against the energy drink maker in December, citing that his firing was a “violation of contract.”

Speed got his start in Formula One racing in 2005, but did not see many victories during this two year endeavor in that sport, ultimately changing over to NASCAR in 2008, after a very brief one year stint in the ARCA series. Widely known for his uncontrollable outbursts and flaring temper that have long dogged his reputation, he drove mostly unsponsored for 2011 until Red Bull Racing picked him up to add to their roster.

Notably, a few months later, Redbull dropped him. They also announced at the end of this year that they would not be sponsoring any drivers for 2012 or competing in any NASCAR events; a shock to the NASCAR nation that is still making its reverberations. With the demise of Redbull’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing Team also goes their other two drivers, Kasey Kahne and Brian Vickers, as well as other employees for the team that are now job hunting in for the 2012 season.

While there has not been a public announcement on the exact amounts of the settlement, sufficed to say that it was enough to make Speed satisfied and to end the lawsuit out of court. For Speed, the amount he gets should hopefully bide him for quite some time. He only has a sponsor for a part time 2012 NASCAR schedule with Leavine Family Racing. And if his temper continues to get the better of him, chances are that he will find them (his new sponsor) leaving him in a hurry and just as fast as Redbull did.