KYLE BUSCH NOTES & QUOTES
‘5’ BRINGING LOWE’S CAR TO AMS:
Kellogg’s Racing will field Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 349 at Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend. It is the same car that led 55 laps in May at Lowe’s Motor Speedway before a mechanical failure knocked driver Kyle Busch out of contention.
LABONTE TESTING ‘HOME TRACK’:
Two-time Cup champion Terry Labonte participated in a two-day test session this week (Oct. 25-26) at Texas Motor Speedway in preparation for his final appearance of the 2005 NEXTEL Cup season on Nov. 6. The Corpus Christi, Texas, native has entered 10 events in Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 44 Chevrolets this year and will race another 10 with the organization in 2006.
MORE TEXAS TESTING:
Labonte (189.474 mph) unofficially topped the speed chart on the final day of testing at Texas Motor Speedway, with teammate Busch (189.341 mph) a close second.
HENDRICK TIES JUNIOR JOHNSON:
Jeff Gordon’s first-place finish Sunday at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway gave Rick Hendrick his 139th Cup-level victory, tying him with legendary team owner Junior Johnson for second on NASCAR’s all-time list (1949-present). Hendrick, who leads all Cup owners in modern-era wins (1972-present), now trails only Petty Enterprises overall.
NINE WOULD BE FINE:
A victory Sunday would put car owner Rick Hendrick in a three-way tie for second on the all-time Cup Series win list at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Hendrick is one victory behind Richard Childress and Junior Johnson, who each have nine triumphs at the track. The Wood Brothers lead with 12 trips to Victory Lane there.
SIGN ME UP:
Busch will sign autographs at the Kellogg’s Racing souvenir rig on Sunday beginning at 9:40 a.m. local time. Tickets will be distributed when the Atlanta Motor Speedway gates open that morning.
BUSCH TRUCKIN’ AT ATLANTA:
Busch will pilot a No. 15 Chevrolet Silverado fielded by Billy Ballew Motorsports in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at Atlanta this weekend. The 20-year-old driver will also enter truck races at Texas, Phoenix and Homestead-Miami.
KELLOGG’S RELIEF DONATION TOPS $1 MILLION:
Kellogg Company has provided more than $1 million in monetary and product donations to relief efforts for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. To date, 50 semi-trailers of product have been contributed to America’s Second Harvest, while the Kellogg’s Corporate Citizenship Fund (KCCF), a charitable arm of Kellogg, has made a monetary donation to America’s Second Harvest to assist with distribution efforts. KCCF is also matching worldwide employee contributions to America’s Second Harvest and the American Red Cross.
BUSCH GOING HOME FOR SEMA/AAPEX:
Busch will visit his hometown of Las Vegas for the upcoming SEMA/AAPEX show. On Tuesday, Nov. 1, he will sign autographs at the Delphi booth from 10:30-11:30 a.m. local time and then at the Quaker State display from 12-2 p.m. On Wednesday, Nov. 2, Busch will make two more appearances at the Delphi area: 10:30-11:30 a.m. and 1:30-2:30 p.m.
KYLE BUSCH, DRIVER OF THE NO. 5 KELLOGG’S CHEVROLETS:
(ON ATLANTA.) “At Lowe’s we damaged the car we wanted to take to Atlanta, so we’ve got a different car that I hope is just as good. The No. 48 team has always been strong there, so we’re hoping to get a little help from them. We ran okay (at Atlanta) in the spring, but had to start in the back because we crashed in qualifying. The keys are going to be qualifying -- starting up front and staying there -- and making your tires last through a long run. If you don’t make them last over the long run you either get really, really loose or really tight. So it’s all about trying to figure out that balance.”
BUSCH:
(WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE HALLOWEEN COSTUME GROWING UP?) “I was a doctor one year, a football player and a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle a few times. I don’t know what I’m going to be this year because we’ll be traveling to Vegas for the SEMA show. I guess I’ll have to wait until next year to dress up as something. Maybe I’ll go as Tony the Tiger.”
ALAN GUSTAFSON, CREW CHIEF OF THE NO. 5 KELLOGG’S CHEVROLETS:
(ON ATLANTA.) “We should be at least a top-five car this weekend and don’t expect anything less. We’re building this team for 2006 and hope to be in the thick of the Chase next year. We’re using the remainder of the season as a test session, working closely with the Nos. 24, 48 and 25 to help Hendrick Motorsports win another championship.”
