NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series: Sirius at the Glen, Watkins Glen International, August 13-15, 2004
Kurt Busch
Team: No. 97 IRWIN Industrial Tools Ford Taurus
Owner: Jack Roush
Crew Chief: Jimmy Fennig
Chassis: #50 (led Sonoma briefly before a mechanical failure, tested at VIR on August 3rd)
Kurt Busch on racing at Watkins Glen International:
"Earlier this year we had a really strong car in Sonoma, but we had an oil line problem early that took us out of contention, so I’d really love to be able to take this IRWIN car up to Watkins Glen and pick up a really solid finish. I know a lot of people have mixed feelings about bringing the NEXTEL Cup cars to the road courses, but I think it’s a nice twist a few times a year.”
Crew Chief Jimmy Fennig on racing at Watkins Glen International:
“We tested both of our road course cars at VIR for both the races this year, and tried some different brake combinations than what we’ve had before – some bigger rotors with some different calipers, and vice versa. We need more forward bite. With the horsepower these cars are producing we’ve got to get that bite – you need it because you’re always spinning your rear tires at these road courses.”
Fast Facts
Kurt Busch remains seventh in the 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series standings for the second consecutive race week following a 10th-place finish at Indianapolis. It was his third top-10 effort in his last five starts and ninth of the season.
Busch has been among the top 10 in points for the last 20 consecutive race weeks, including one week at No. 1. He trails sixth-place Elliott Sadler by 59 points and has eighth-place Bobby Labonte just 31 points in back of him.
Busch struggled in his first two appearances at Watkins Glen (29th in 2001 and 41st the following year), but rebounded with a 12th-place performance last season.
Though Busch only has two top-20’s in his seven career Cup starts at road course events, he has qualified inside the top 10 five times. His best road course event came at Infineon in 2002, where he started on the outside pole, led 30 laps, and finished fourth.
Busch is running the IRWIN Industrial Tools paint scheme for the 14th of 19 events in 2004.
Busch has extra incentive to run well at Watkins Glen to benefit low-income families. For a top-five finish, IRWIN will donate $10,000 in product to the charitable foundation Rebuilding Together, and $20,000 for a win.
