DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 16, 2005) – Thirty-four races, more than 8,600 miles, events in two countries and arguably the most difficult competition in the 24-year history of the NASCAR Busch Series.

After conquering those and so many other obstacles, one more remains for the two contenders for the 2005 championship – Saturday’s Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Reigning NASCAR Busch Series champion Martin Truex Jr. (No. 8 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) has a 64-point advantage over second-place Clint Bowyer (No. 2 ACDelco Chevrolet) in the point standings. Simply put, Truex needs to finish 12th or better, or lead a lap and finish 14th or better, to repeat as champion.

The differential is daunting as far as Bowyer’s situation is concerned, especially since only one second-place driver has overcome the leader entering the final race to win the championship. Rob Moroso trailed Tommy Houston by 19 points in 1989, but won the title by 55 points with a third-place finish compared to Houston’s 24th place due to engine failure.

But Bowyer has had a flair for the dramatic in the last three races, having started 35th, 20th and 32nd, respectively, yet coming back to finish first, seventh and second in those events to keep his title hopes alive.

“It's going to take a miracle, there's no way of getting around that,” Bowyer said. “We're just going to have to go out and run as hard as we can and try to win the race, try to get all of the bonus points. And if they happen to have some bad luck, we've got to make sure that we're there to take advantage of it, and that's all. That's the bottom line. That's all we can do.”

Truex has hardly slouched in his last five races, finishing in the top 10 in three events and 11th in two others to build his lead over Bowyer to its current standing after it had whittled to 26 points following Dover.

“We just need to go to Homestead and have a good day,” Truex said. We don't need to do anything special. We're just going to try to win the race, that's what we're there for. We don't need to beat ourselves. If we just don't have any bad luck and have a decent day like we're used to having, I'm sure we'll be in good shape.”

The NASCAR Busch Series championship has been decided by the outcome of the final race of the season 13 times in its 24-year history. Homestead-Miami Speedway will now have hosted five series title races since 1995.

Truex is attempting to become the sixth driver to win two NASCAR Busch Series championships, and the fifth to win consecutive crowns. The last driver to win back-to-back titles was Truex’s team co-owner, Dale Earnhardt Jr., who accomplished the feat in 1998 and ‘99.

NEWS & NOTES, PART II

ON THE RIGHT TRACK
Joe Nemechek (No. 87 Cellular One Chevrolet) leads all NASCAR Busch Series drivers with three wins at Homestead-Miami. No other driver has more than one victory. … Nemechek is tied with Mark Martin (No. 9 Pennzoil Ford) for most top fives (five) and leads all drivers with seven top-10 finishes. He is one of eight drivers to win a Busch Pole (1995). … Jason Keller and Nemechek are the only two drivers to have raced in each of the 10 NASCAR Busch Series events at Homestead. … Kevin Harvick (No. 21 Reese’s Chevrolet) has led the most laps (236). … Four former winners (Harvick in 2004, Nemechek in 1997, ’99, and 2001), Kasey Kahne (No. 6 Lawry’s Dodge – 2004) and Kevin Lepage (No. 72 Gunbroker.com Chevrolet – 1996) are entered. The wins were the first in NASCAR Busch Series competition for Kahne and Lepage

ETC.
The NASCAR Busch Series point leader has topped the standings by 64 points or less seven times heading into the final race of the season. … No driver has been running at the finish at the end of every race this season. Stacy Compton (No. 59 Kingsford/Bush’s Baked Beans Ford) is the current running at the finish leader with 29 races. … The NASCAR Busch Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year competition is also coming down to the final race at Homestead-Miami. Carl Edwards leads Reed Sorenson (No. 41 Discount Tire Co. Dodge) by 11 points, 333-322. … John Andretti (No. 10 St. Jude “Racing to Save Lives” Ford) will attempt to make his second career start in the NASCAR Busch Series at Homestead. Andretti’s only other start came in the 1998 season opener at Daytona where he started 11th and finished 13th. … Ryan Newman (No. 39 Alltel Dodge) will go for his sixth win in nine races this season at Homestead; five of those wins came in consecutive starts for Newman. … Jason Keller is expected to make his 391st start in the NASCAR Busch Series at Homestead, a mark that dates to April 1991. At 391 races, he will have just one less than second-place Elton Sawyer (1983-2002) on the all-time list. He would enter the 2006 season needing 26 starts to catch leader Tommy Houston’s record of 417 from 1982-96.

QUOTEBOOK

FROM THE ARCHIVES
The first NASCAR event to be staged at Homestead-Miami Speedway (then called Homestead Motorsports Complex), was a NASCAR Busch Series race in 1995. Johnny Benson stretched his 220-point lead over Chad Little to the second-largest championship margin of 404 points despite finishing the race in ninth place. Dale Jarrett won the Juffy Lube 300 with a charge in the final two laps.

The only larger championship margin at that time was the 426 points that seperated Sam Ard and Jack Ingram in 1984. That record would be broken in 2000 by Jeff Green, whose 616-point final championship advantage over second-place Jason Keller still stands as the series record.

ON DECK: 2005 NASCAR BUSCH SERIES AWARDS
NASCAR will recognize its 2005 NASCAR Busch Series champion, top 10 drivers and other award winners on Fri., Dec. 9 at the annual series awards ceremony at the Portofino Bay Hotel in Orlando, Fla. NASCAR Busch Series Champions Week events kick off on Tues., Dec. 6 in Tampa, Fla., when the series champion visits for media opportunities, then on Weds., Dec. 7, a media luncheon featuring the champion will take place at the Rock ‘N Sports Bar & Grill in Ybor City.