DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Oct. 12, 2005) – Like many youngsters, Martin Truex Jr. (No. 8 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) and Clint Bowyer (No. 2 ACDelco Chevrolet) probably didn’t have much interest in history when they were in school.

But both wouldn’t mind being the recipients of some key NASCAR Busch Series statistical history in Charlotte. Since the series’ inception in 1982, the driver leading the point standings following the fall race there has gone on to win the title every year but two – 1991 and 2003.

Only forty-nine points separate Truex, the leader and defending series champion, from second-place Bowyer heading into Friday night’s race.

With just five events remaining, this is the sixth-closest championship battle in series history. And both drivers look to take this championship chase to the end at Homestead-Miami Speedway next month.

Prior to last Saturday’s race at Kansas, Truex was only 26 points ahead of Bowyer. A native of Emporia, Kan., Bowyer considers Kansas Speedway his home track and had set his sights on overtaking Truex in front of family and friends. However, a loose wheel forced Bowyer to come to pit road with just seven laps to go and he was relegated to a 16th-place finish. Truex finished 10th.

“The best thing about that day was that it was close to my hometown, my home track and it was important for me to run good there,” Bowyer said. “We just didn’t get the finish right there at the end. By no means did we have anything to really frown on.”

Although Truex was able to escape Kansas with a slight increase in his already-precarious lead, Bowyer’s quest for the championship remains strong. “Yeah we lost some points, but I think it has just made all of us that much hungrier these last five races,” Bowyer said.

And hungry he is.

So what is each driver’s strategy to make sure they leave Charlotte with the points lead – and continue the historical trend?

“We need to stay focused and not get too far ahead of ourselves,” Truex said. “This championship will be won by a driver who capitalizes on the other’s mistake. Typically we don’t run well at mile and a half tracks, but our program has gotten better. Our goal is to remain the points leader leaving Charlotte.”

According to Bowyer, he plans on handling his on-track business the same way he has all season long – by running up front.

“We have to attack it just how we did at Kansas, Texas, and all the rest of these mile-and-a half racetracks,” he said. “We just have to go in there with a lot of confidence and make sure we get things handled.”

NEWS & NOTES, PART II

ON THE RIGHT TRACK
Lowe’s Motor Speedway is the site of Kyle Busch’s (No. 57 Sta-Green Weed & Feed Chevrolet) first career NASCAR Busch Series start. Just three weeks after Busch turned 18 years old, he qualified fifth and finished second in the spring 2003 event. In just four career starts at Charlotte, Busch has posted two victories and four top-five finishes. ... Greg Biffle (No. 66 Duraflame Ford) is the only Raybestos Rookie to win a fall race at Charlotte since the program was created in 1989. His first win came in the 2001 event where Jason Keller (No. 35 McDonald’s Ford) finished second; his other Charlotte win came in 2003. Biffle’s 4.6 average finish at Charlotte is best among drivers entered in the race.

ETC.
Greg Biffle returns to the NASCAR Busch Series top 10 after posting a second-place finish this past weekend at Kansas. He moved from 11th to ninth in the standings while running 23 of the seasons 30 races to date. He spent nine weeks out of the top 10 and has fought back from as far back as 16th. … Regan Smith (No. 58 Samson Stone Dodge) has started seventh and third, respectively in his last two races. His third-place start at Kansas was a series career best. … It’s been 12 years since Bill Elliott (No. 6 Country Crock Dodge) has run a NASCAR Busch Series race at Charlotte, but this Friday that absence will end. This will be Elliott’s fifth series start this season. … In support of National Breast Cancer Awareness month, Brent Sherman (No. 10 Serta Ford) will sport a special Counting Sheep for the Cure paint scheme in Friday’s race. Instead of the traditional silver Serta scheme, the No. 10 car has been painted pink and will feature the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation’s logo and the “Collector’s Edition” pink Counting Sheep. … Four full-time NASCAR Busch Series drivers are entered in this weekend’s NASCAR NEXTEL Cup event at Charlotte – Johnny Sauter (No. 1 Yellow Transportation Dodge), David Stremme (No. 14 U.S. Navy Dodge), Carl Edwards (No. 60 Charter Communications Ford) and Denny Hamlin (No. 20 Rockwell Automation Chevrolet). … Kevin Harvick will be in the No. 21 Reese’s Chevrolet; he currently holds the track record at 184.445 mph. … The Raybestos Rookie of the Year battle continues as Reed Sorenson (No. 41 Discount Tire Co. Dodge) took over the points lead from Carl Edwards post Kansas. Edwards trails Sorenson by two points. … NFL Hall-of-Famer Jim Kelly will be a guest speaker and awards presenter at the Dollar General Store Managers Awards Breakfast located at the Renaissance Hotel in Charlotte, N.C. on Friday morning. He and driver Todd Bodine (No. 34 Dollar General Chevrolet) will also visit with Dollar General VIP’s, guests, product vendors and consumer contest winners from Dollar General store promotions in several different suites and hospitality venues at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. … Kasey Kahne will be sporting a special paint scheme featuring Spy vs. Spy Jr. from the upcoming MADKIDS magazine comic strip on Friday night.

QUOTEBOOK

FROM THE ARCHIVES
Last year’s fall race at Charlotte tied the record for most race leaders in a NASCAR Busch Series event at the track. A total of 11 different drivers, tying the mark set in 1993, went to the front of the field. Casey Mears led 61 of the 200 laps to pick up the five point bonus for most laps led, but Mike Bliss won the race after leading the final 18 laps – the first of those after going three-wide on the frontstretch to overtake Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth for the lead. This was Bliss’ first career win in his 70th start.

The 1993 race saw Mark Martin dominate, leading 149 of 200 laps with the 10 other race leaders going to the front for only a few laps at a time. The victory was the first of Martin’s record-setting six NASCAR Busch Series wins at Charlotte.

ON DECK: MEMPHIS MOTORSPORTS PARK
The NASCAR Busch Series heads to Memphis Motorsports Park for the Sam’s Town 250 on Oct. 22. The 0.75-mile track will host its seventh NASCAR Busch Series event, which has produced six different winners. Jeff Green won the inaugural series race from the pole in 1999. The only other driver to win from the pole is last year’s winner, reigning series champion Martin Truex Jr.