Busch confirmed Friday at Richmond International Raceway that Tryson will leave Penske Racing after serving as his crew chief on the No.2 Dodge since midway through the 2007 season.

"It seems as if our focus right now should be the Chase and making it in the Chase," said Busch, who currently sits seventh in points. "It was a tough week for that type of news."

Tryson is widely rumored to be heading over to Michael Waltrip Racing in 2010 to serve as Martin Truex Jr.'s crew chief. Truex will leave Earnhardt Ganassi Racing at the end of the year to drive the No.56 Toyota for MWR next year.

Busch enters Saturday night's Chase cut-off race at Richmond 95 points ahead of 13th-place Brian Vickers. He won the inaugural Chase championship in 1994 when crew chief Jimmy Fennig guided his efforts at Roush Fenway Racing. Busch made the Chase in '07, but did not qualify last year.