KYLE BUSCH NOTES & QUOTES
YOUTH GONE WILD:
At California Speedway on Sunday, Kyle Busch became the youngest race winner in the history of NASCAR’s premier Cup circuit. The 20-year-old Las Vegas native also holds the “youngest winner” marks for: NEXTEL Cup Series pole position; Craftsman Truck Series race; Craftsman Truck Series pole; and Busch Series rookie of the year. He is currently on pace to become the youngest-ever NEXTEL Cup rookie of the year.
‘5’ ON LABOR DAY WEEKEND:
Before Busch’s win Sunday night, the most recent time a No. 5 Kellogg’s Chevrolet visited Victory Lane was Aug. 31, 2003 with the legendary Terry Labonte behind the wheel. Labonte, a two-time Cup Series champion, won the final Southern 500 that afternoon at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.
HENDRICK AT RICHMOND:
Rick Hendrick is second among active car owners with seven Cup wins at Richmond International Raceway. A native of Palmer Springs, Va., Hendrick has gone to Victory Lane with drivers Terry Labonte (3), Jeff Gordon (2), Joe Nemechek (1) and Tim Richmond (1).
RIR TRIPLE FOR BUSCH:
When the checkered flag waves Saturday night, Busch will have taken up to 850 competitive laps (more than 660 miles) at Richmond after once again logging NASCAR triple duty. He will drive Chevrolets in the Craftsman Truck Series, Busch Series and NEXTEL Cup Series events this week.
DELPHI COLORS AT RICHMOND:
Busch’s No. 5 Monte Carlo will carry a special paint scheme at Richmond featuring the red and white Delphi oval. Saturday night will mark the third of four appearances of the Delphi design this season.
GUSTAFSON WINS THIRD WYPALL AWARD:
A gutsy two-tire call by rookie crew chief Alan Gustafson propelled Busch to his first career NEXTEL Cup victory on Sunday. The record-breaking weekend earned Gustafson the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race honor. Doug Richert leads the 2005 Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Year standings with five awards, while Gustafson is in second with three.
CHASSIS 323 FOR KELLOGG’S RACING:
Gustafson has selected Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 323 for this weekend’s NEXTEL Cup contest at Richmond. The car has posted nothing but top-10 finishes this year, notching results of eighth at Phoenix in April, fourth at Richmond in May and fourth at New Hampshire in July.
KELLOGG’S TEAM TESTING DOVER:
Busch and Kellogg’s Racing will test Dover (Del.) International Speedway on Sept. 14 in preparation for the Sept. 25 NEXTEL Cup event. Busch led a race-high 90 laps in June at Dover en route to a second-place finish.
KYLE BUSCH, DRIVER OF THE NO. 5 KELLOGG’S/DELPHI CHEVROLETS:
(ON WINNING HIS FIRST RACE AND GAINING MOMENTUM.) “Momentum can carry a race team. If you look at Tony Stewart and Greg Biffle this year, you’ll see how much of an impact momentum has. The No. 5 team should have already won a few this year, but we kept having silly things go wrong. I feel like a million bucks now that we got that first win out of the way.”
BUSCH:
(ON RICHMOND.) “We finished fourth at Richmond last time and expect the same kind of results because we’re taking the same car. I won my first Busch Series race at Richmond and think it would be an awesome place to win a Cup race. It’s fast and exciting. The fireworks will definitely be happening on the track with all those guys fighting so hard to get into the Chase. All we need to do is go out there and try to win these next 11 races. The pressure is off.”
ALAN GUSTAFSON, CREW CHIEF OF THE NO. 5 KELLOGG’S/DELPHI CHEVROLETS:
(ON GETTING THE TEAM’S FIRST WIN.) “The weight is off of our shoulders as a team. We know now that things can come together and there isn’t any reason we can’t win a few more of these races before the season ends. I’m looking forward to Richmond because we have a great car capable of running with the best and beating them. I’m just really happy for all of Hendrick Motorsports and this team. Only 11 more races until that rookie stripe on the back bumper of our car goes away.”
