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Busch eyeing three-state, three-race weekend and Formula One test

By Rea White - Associate Editor

Friday, May 16, 2008

Article Rating: 3.0
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David Griffin / NASCAR Scene

David Griffin / NASCAR Scene

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CONCORD, N.C. - Kyle Busch still hasn't completely given up on the possibility of contending for the championship in the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Craftsman Truck series this season. In fact, he says he will try to run in all three races in three different states in one upcoming weekend.

He also plans to test a Formula One car in the offseason, proving what many already suspected ­ – the 23-year-old is a pure racer, willing to jump behind the wheel of any kind of car as often as possible.

Busch had already announced plans to expand his Nationwide schedule by joining D'Hondt Motorsports for the Nationwide Series race at Watkins Glen International.

Friday at Lowe's Motor Speedway, he also disclosed plans to run in all three series the weekend of June 8. That¹s not all that unusual for Busch ­ except that weekend includes a Friday night truck race at Texas Motor Speedway, a Saturday evening Nationwide race at Nashville Superspeedway in Tennessee and a Sunday afternoon outing at Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania

Busch has already been piecing together a complete Nationwide schedule driving both Joe Gibbs Racing Nationwide cars at some point and also driving for Braun Racing. He's won three races in that series and is currently second in the standings. He's won three Cup races to lead those Standings, and, driving for Billy Ballew Motorsports, has won two truck races and is sixth in the standings despite skipping a race already there.

Still, running in three states on three days is an unprecedented race attempt. Could Busch do it?

"So we're going to ... practice and do everything in Pocono, go to the truck race, come back and practice Saturday, go to Nashville for the Nationwide race and then come back and race again in Pocono," he said. "It'll be a fun weekend."

That type of schedule is nothing to scoff at. In the heat of his best Cup season, Busch says that he doesn't worry about the distraction of running in other series.

Actually, it seems to help this driver ­ and it shows his confidence in team crew chief Steve Addington.

"I feel like the Cup stuff is sort of taking care of itself," Busch said. "Steve Addington and all the guys at JGR have done an awesome job of preparing great race cars, so I'm not going to say it's easy, but it's not as hard as running 15th or 20th every week. Things are going well enough over there where I feel like I can branch out and do the things that I want to do too, which is run some Nationwide stuff and run some truck stuff."

Busch recognizes how some might react to the triple weekend, but to him, it's just another chance to race, to try something new and spice things up a little.

That's what he wants, although he sees the arguments against such an effort.

"Does it make sense? No," he said. "Do I still think that there's a chance possibly for a title in all three? There could be. It would take a lot, probably some bad luck on the other drivers' parts in some races where I'm not there or just other times during the year in order to make up ground, but it's just fun. I love racing, I love making a show out of things, and I guess, also, it's more PR for NASCAR. So let's help them out."

After the busy season ends, Busch is trying to get even more time behind the wheel of a car. This time, though, he's looking at a different version of vehicle than he has become accustomed to.

"We're working on a test session right now at the end of November, beginning of December sometime, going to Japan and doing a little exhibition sort of deal, see what it's like," Busch said. "We'll take the Cup car over there, too, I think just kind of run around there at either Twin Ring [Motegi] or something like that, show them what the Cup cars are like and try to get in a Formula One car, too."

Would he seriously consider driving in that series, though, at some point?

"We'll see how good I test first, see if my neck can withstand the G-forces with braking and everything," Busch said. "But I wouldn't mind it. If I can do it and I'm good at it, then I'll give it a shot and try it."

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6 responses to "Busch eyeing three-state, three-race weekend and Formula One test"
  1. 1
    Worm Dirt said:
    May 16, 2008 at 2:50 PM

    If civilization as we know it came to an end tomorrow..... and Kyle Busch was the sole remaining human left on the planet.... I sincerely think that KB would spend his days beneath the faded billboards of Charlotte Motor Speedway.....keeping the weeds from growing through the surface.... and maintaining a large signal fire in the infield..... in hopes of signaling any other forms of life in the solar system that may want to beam themselves down and give him someone to RACE. Godspeed brother!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  2. 2
    Anonymous said:
    May 16, 2008 at 3:11 PM

    Kyle "The Squirrel" Busch is still an A-hole!

    Report as Abuse
  3. 3
    Andy Gray said:
    May 17, 2008 at 9:17 AM

    I still don't understand why Rick Hendrick chose to get rid of Kyle Busch instead of Casey Mears.

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  4. 4
    Worm Dirt said:
    May 17, 2008 at 11:33 AM

    That's a great point about Casey Mears... I've been waiting for somebody to write that article for a long time. Anyway, I guess it makes me respect Joe Gibbs Racing even more for their "unique" approach of letting their drivers be DRIVERS instead of taking the assembly-line cookie-cutter puppet-master approach that the most do. I saw an interview with David Ragan yesterday and was actually depressed afterward. Don't get me wrong, I like the guy and want to pull for a Georgia boy, but this kid is so coached and rehearsed and manipulated by parents and Rousch and PR coaches that it's creepy. Quote.... "I wake up every day thinking about how I can be a better tire salesman." Sad...

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  5. 5
    Anonymous said:
    May 17, 2008 at 7:26 PM

    The Squirrel's engine blew up during the All-Star race.....there is a God after all!!

    Report as Abuse
  6. 6
    Pearl Roll said:
    May 21, 2008 at 11:46 PM

    He is a great driver and you can hate him all you want-Hendrick screwed up and I am so glad JGR got the better DRIVER. Jr. needs lessons thats the only way he will ever win. This is about racing after all isnt it? Jr. nation acts like grade schoolers-GROW UP already and u wanna call Kyle a baby -Yea right

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