Busch Recaps Rookie Season in Winston Cup and Looks Forward to 2002 Season

(HUNTERSVILLE, N.C.) A rookie season in NASCAR's Winston Cup can be summarized by a season filled with ups and downs, and challenges one could never even begin to imagine. For Kurt Busch, driver of the No. 97 Sharpie Rubbermaid Ford he started the season off with expectations of finishing in the top 25 in driver and owner points, and to win the Raybestos rookie-of-the-year honors. But, what Busch quickly learned is that the competition in Winston Cup is unlike anything he had ever experienced. All of a sudden, Busch found himself racing against some of the best stock car drivers in the world, and he knew that his goals were going to be a tough challenge, but ones that he wouldn't give up on. Busch raced hard all season long, narrowly missing his start of season goals. Through it all, Busch and the No. 97 Sharpie Rubbermaid team ended the season with three top-five and six top-10 finishes. Additionally, he won the Bud Pole at Darlington, something that only one rookie has ever done before him. Busch showed to the Winston Cup field that he has what it takes to race against the best of the best, and his potential is immeasurable.

"We definitely didn't finish where we had hoped in the overall point standings, but we had several highlights throughout the season." Busch said. "We did what a lot of rookies are supposed to do; learn, absorb and apply lessons learned to future races. Unfortunately that didn't help us in our overall points, but without question will help us out tremendously for next year. Winning the pole at Darlington was a highlight for our team, we struggled with qualifying all year, and to win a pole really showed us all that we have come along way. We had a couple of chances to win races last season, but luck didn't seem to be on our side. It took me a little while to get adjusted to certain aspects of Winston Cup racing, which I think in the end hindered some of my performances. But all in all, I am looking ahead to 2002 with eyes wide open."

In the process of evaluating Busch's 2001 season, Jack Roush had a few changes in mind. At the end of November, Jimmy Fennig, former crew chief for Mark Martin was named crew chief for Kurt Busch in 2002. Along with Fennig, car chief Shawn Parker (also formerly with Mark Martin), and many of the No. 6 Viagra team crew guys have made the switch as well.

"I am really excited about the opportunity of working with Jimmy Fennig next year," Busch said. "His experience and knowledge is going to be a great benefit to me, and I feel very fortunate to have he, and the rest of the former 6 team crew to work with. They have obviously exhibited great talent with Martin, and I feel that it is a win-win situation all the way around. We are definitely setting our sights to finish in the top-15 in points next year, as well as put the No. 97 Sharpie Rubbermaid ford in victory lane a couple of times.

For now, Busch and Fennig are preparing to go to Daytona to test in early January. It should be an exciting test to see what this new duo can produce together.

Roush Racing is a subsidiary of Roush Industries that operates eight teams; four in NASCAR Winston Cup with drivers Mark Martin, Jeff Burton, Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch; two in the Busch series with Burton and Greg Biffle; and two in Craftsman Truck with Jon Wood and Kyle Busch.