PREVIEW: KYLE BUSCH (NO. 5 KELLOGG'S/CARQUEST MONTE CARLO SS)
VENUE: HOMESTEAD-MIAMI SPEEDWAY (1.5-MILE OVAL)
CIRCUIT: NASCAR NEXTEL CUP SERIES (RACE 36 OF 36)
EVENT: SUNDAY, NOV. 18, 2007 (267 LAPS, 400 MILES)

LOOKING FOR HOME-STEADY IMPROVEMENT: In two NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series starts at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Kyle Busch has third- and fourth-place qualifying efforts to his credit. He has led 28 laps around the 1.5-mile oval near Miami, but on-track incidents have produced 38th- and 41st-place finishes in the last two season finales.

GRAND FINALE: Sunday's event at Homestead-Miami Speedway will mark Busch's final race in the No. 5 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. Busch signed with Hendrick Motorsports in 2002 and made his first NASCAR Busch Series start at Lowe's Motor Speedway in May 2003, shortly after his 18th birthday. His first NEXTEL Cup start for car owner Rick Hendrick came at his hometown track of Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March 2004.

STAT BOY: Heading into his final race with Hendrick Motorsports, Busch has accumulated impressive statistics. In 113 starts, he has won four NEXTEL Cup events and two pole positions while scoring 30 top-five finishes and 51 top-10s. Busch has led 1,570 laps on the circuit and will end the season with his second consecutive top-10 finish in the championship standings.

MORE ACCOLADES: Busch won the 2004 Raybestos Rookie of the Year in the Busch Series and the 2005 NEXTEL Cup Raybestos Rookie of the Year. He holds the modern-era record for youngest driver to win a Cup race and pole position.

'412' FOR HOMESTEAD: Crew chief Alan Gustafson has selected Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 412 as the primary Monte Carlos SS for this weekend's NEXTEL Cup race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The car last raced at Kansas, where it qualified eighth before an early race accident led to a 41st-place finish.

TRUCK RACING: In addition to racing in the NEXTEL Cup Series finale, Busch will also race in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for Billy Ballew Motorsports this weekend at Homestead.

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GONE FISHIN': Kyle Busch will participate in the sixth annual Miccosukee Resort & Gaming "Hot Rods & Reels" Charity Fishing Tournament on Saturday at the Homestead-Miami Speedway infield lake. The event benefits the non-profit Darrell Gwynn Foundation to Cure Paralysis and the Betty Jane France Pediatric Center "Speediatrics" at Homestead Hospital.

MEET 'K.B.': Busch will greet fans and sign autographs at 11:15 a.m. local time on Sunday at the No. 5 Kellogg's/CARQUEST souvenir hauler outside Homestead-Miami Speedway.

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KYLE BUSCH, DRIVER OF THE NO. 5 KELLOGG'S/CARQUEST MONTE CARLOS SS: (SUMMARIZING THE SEASON.) "It's been a good and exciting year, but it's been frustrating, too. I feel like we could have won so many more races, but because either I did something or we were involved in someone else's mistake we weren't able to get the finishes we deserved. It's a product of racing, and we can always say we could have done better because we only won one out of 36 races."

BUSCH: (ON HOW HE'S CHANGED IN 2007.) "I've gotten a lot better at points racing this year and learned more about consistency. We've run well everywhere, but just didn't get the finishes we deserved. I've grown up a lot, on and off the track. I've learned how to deal with things better. It's been a better year overall for everything, I guess."

BUSCH: (ON THE UNIQUE QUALITIES OF HOMESTEAD.) "It's unique in its own right because it has variable banking and I've found it pays dividends to run around the top of the track the entire time. It's a fast mile-and-a-half, but it's more so like a traditional oval, similar to the old Atlanta. You can move down to the bottom to pass because it's wide enough, but the fast groove is the top of the track."

BUSCH: (ON HIS FINAL RACE FOR HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS.) "It's probably going to hit me really hard when the checkered flag drops that I won't be in this car next year. I owe Rick Hendrick so much for getting me into this sport, bringing me along, dealing with the ups and downs and just being a great person and boss altogether. Winning that Busch race last week in Phoenix was emotional. All of us got emotional. This (Hendrick) is where I started, I have a lot of friends here and it's going to be bittersweet leaving, but I'm also excited for a new beginning. I'd love to go out on top just to give the No. 5 car, Kellogg's and CARQUEST one final celebration."

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ALAN GUSTAFSON, CREW CHIEF OF THE NO. 5 KELLOGG'S/CARQUEST MONTE CARLO SS: (ON THE TEAM'S FINAL RACE WITH KYLE BUSCH.) "Sunday is going to be tough for all of us. We've been through a lot as a team with that kid, and we've watched him grow, learn and race his heart out. I know next year is right around the corner, and we're looking forward to it, but this team has put in a lot of effort and made so many gains in the three years Kyle has been at the wheel. I was emotional after the Busch win in Phoenix and I probably will be this weekend, too. I wish him the best in his career, and I couldn't be prouder of our accomplishments in the No. 5 camp."