KYLE BUSCH NOTES & QUOTES
BUSCH BECAME YOUNGEST AT CALIFORNIA:
In his most recent visit to California Speedway, Kyle Busch etched his name into NASCAR’s record books by becoming the youngest pole winner in NEXTEL Cup Series history. The Las Vegas native, who turned 20 in May, accomplished the feat in just his eighth start on the circuit.
‘HOLLYWOOD’ HENDRICK:
Rick Hendrick’s teams have posted victories in four of the 10 races held at California Speedway, putting him first in that category among car owners. Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson, two drivers with Golden State roots, have each earned wins for Hendrick at the track. Gordon has three, more than any other driver, and Johnson one.
A WIN FOR CHARITY:
At Bristol, Tenn., on Saturday, Busch won the Sharpie Mini 500, a remote-control car race for charity. The NEXTEL Cup rookie collected $5,000 in cash to benefit the Hendrick Foundation for Children and another $5,000 in school supplies for the Jeff Turner Foundation for Education.
‘5’ TAKING CHASSIS 344:
Kellogg’s Racing will field Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 344 at California. Busch led 19 laps with the car, a No. 5 Kellogg’s Chevrolet, Aug. 21 at Michigan International Speedway.
PAPIS LENDS A HAND:
Ace road-course racer Max Papis, a works driver for General Motors Racing, spent Aug. 23-24 testing a Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet at Road Atlanta in an effort to evaluate the team’s gearboxes. The Italian wheelman, who tested solely in race trim, gave excellent feedback throughout the two-day session to help garner vital information for Hendrick engineers.
VICKERS & BUSCH AUTOGRAPH SESSIONS:
Vickers will greet fans and sign autographs Saturday at Rotolo Chevrolet in Fontana, Calif., at 5 p.m. PT. Busch will do the same at the Kellogg’s Racing souvenir trailer Sunday beginning at 1:15 p.m. PT.
KYLE BUSCH, DRIVER OF THE NO. 5 KELLOGG’S CHEVROLETS:
(ON CALIFORNIA.) “I’m looking forward to going to California. We won the pole there in February, but it was only the second race of the year. I think the competition will be much tougher as far as winning a pole. Back in February, that was our first impound race and it was something that people were trying to get used to. Last time at California we qualified well, but didn’t have much of a car during the race. This time I would love to qualify well and race well. The way we ran at Michigan -- running strong and up front before the hot dog wrappers got on the grill and toasted the motor -- should be the way we run at California. I’m looking forward to it.”
BUSCH: (ON HIS NO. 5 KELLOGG’S RACING TEAM.)
“Each week we have come to the track running well right off the truck. There is no doubt the guys at the shop are getting the job done. Being 22nd in points doesn’t really do justice to the way our season has gone. It’s just been hard to finish these races for whatever reason. We will run strong this weekend, there is no doubt. We really want to win one of these and get the monkey off our backs so we can focus on finishing out this season strong.”
BUSCH: (ON HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH CREW CHIEF ALAN GUSTAFSON.)
“Alan and I are two young guys who are just eager to go out there and do well and do the best we can week in and week out. We want to win races, but we know that takes a little bit of time and we’ll get there sooner or later. We’re hoping sooner is quicker than later, of course. We both have the same goals.”
KEN HOWES, HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS VICE PRESIDENT OF COMPETITION:
(ON MAX PAPIS TESTING AT ROAD ATLANTA.) “The main reason we scheduled this test with Max was to evaluate the reliability of our transmissions in a road race setup. We asked Max to drive for us because of his road racing abilities and his experience in a variety of different types of race cars. We felt he could help out. We also wanted his input on all aspects of the car. Another point of view. We now have lots of data to sift through. We learned a lot and are very pleased with Max’s efforts. It was a very good test.”
