CARQUEST COLORS FOR '5' CAR:
This weekend will mark the debut of a new-look paint scheme for the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolets, as Kyle Busch's NEXTEL Cup ride will sport the colors of CARQUEST Auto Parts at California. The CARQUEST shield will adorn the hood in four additional events this season: Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway in April; Lowe's Motor Speedway in May; Kansas Speedway in October; and Texas Motor Speedway in November.
HENDRICK DREAMIN' OF FIFTH FONTANA WIN:
Car owner Rick Hendrick has claimed four Cup Series victories in nine opportunities at California Speedway. Roger Penske and Jack Roush each have two wins at the two-mile D-shaped oval, while Robert Yates owns one.
RAYBESTOS ROOKIE MEDIA OPPORTUNITY:
Kyle Busch and his Raybestos Rookie of the Year competitor Travis Kvapil will trade paint using remote control cars in front of the media center at California Speedway on Friday, Feb. 25 at 1:15 p.m. PT.
KELLOGG'S SUPPORTS MARROW PROGRAM:
For every Kellogg product that is purchased/scanned in an Albertson's grocery store in the state of Florida during the month of February, Kellogg Company will donate 10 cents to the Hendrick Marrow Program (up to a maximum of $15,000). Kellogg's pledged to double the contribution following Jeff Gordon's Daytona 500 victory.
KYLE BUSCH PARTY ZONE APPEARANCE:
Busch will make an appearance at California Speedway's Party Zone on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 10:30 a.m. PT.
BUSCH'S BEST:
Driving a CARQUEST-sponsored Chevy Monte Carlo, Busch started 18th and finished 24th at California Speedway last September, marking his best NEXTEL Cup performance to date.
KYLE BUSCH, DRIVER OF THE NO. 5 KELLOGG'S/CARQUEST CHEVROLETS:
(DAYTONA DIDN'T GO AS PLANNED, BUT YOU SEEM UPBEAT. HOW DO YOU FEEL GOING INTO CALIFORNIA?) "Daytona is one of those places where you just hope for the best (laughs). We were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I'm really optimistic about this season because as a team we're already communicating and working at a level that may take some teams a year to reach. We learned a lot (at Daytona), but have some ground to make up starting this weekend."
BUSCH:
(YOU'VE SAID THAT YOUR TRANSITION FROM THE BUSCH SERIES TO THE NEXTEL CUP SERIES WOULD BE SOMEWHAT PSYCHOLOGICAL. WHAT DID YOU MEAN?) "The main reason I was tentative about the transition from the Busch to Cup cars was because of the new spoiler rule and tire situation. It's just a process I needed to go through to get used to the different feel of the cars. It's a 'learn-as-you-go' sort of thing. Through the test sessions (at California and Las Vegas) earlier this month I learned a lot about how the Kellogg's car drives and I'm looking forward to the upcoming downforce tracks. I think we'll be competitive."
BUSCH:
(HOW WILL THE IMPOUND RULE SHAKE OUT AT CALIFORNIA?) "Last year in the Busch Series we would practice in race trim and then switch over at the end and make a few qualifying runs. So, in a sense, I'm used to the way things are going to be, whereas some guys may not be. I think it will mix up some teams, meaning some will go out focusing on race setups and some will focus on qualifying. California is a track where you can pass, so if you qualify in the middle or the back of the pack you can race your way to the front if you have the car to do it. As far as our test, we were great in race trim and even better in qualifying so I can't wait to get there."
BUSCH:
(CALIFORNIA WAS THE SITE OF YOUR BEST NEXTEL CUP PERFORMANCE LAST YEAR.) "I really enjoy tracks like California, Las Vegas and Lowe's Motor Speedway. Last year we had a decent car and we just worked on it throughout the day and finished well."
ALAN GUSTAFSON, CREW CHIEF OF THE NO. 5 KELLOGG'S/CARQUEST CHEVROLETS:
(YOU TESTED CALIFORNIA SPEEDWAY PRIOR TO THE DAYTONA 500. HOW WAS IT?) "The test session went well. At first we had to work hard to figure out the spoiler configuration and once we did we were moving in the right direction. We made quite a few long runs. I think we're going to have something for them."
GUSTAFSON:
(GOING INTO THIS WEEKEND, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON QUALIFYING AND THE IMPOUND RULE?) "We want to qualify well, but don't want to hurt ourselves in the race, so we're trying to work on ways to get the best of both worlds. California is a place where you can pass, so we may not focus too much on those two laps and more on the actual race itself. Once the race starts, the field will fan out and drivers can run on the bottom or the top of the track, wherever the car is best. If you're good, you can go to the front."
