Kurt Busch still searching for answers heading into Bristol
By Jared Turner - SceneDaily Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
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By all accounts, Kurt Busch’s 2008 season has not gone as he had hoped or expected.
With one win and only three top-fives in 23 races, the 2004 NASCAR Cup champion has struggled. At least he’s pretty sure of the source of his struggles: NASCAR’s new car, formerly known as the car of tomorrow.
“I attribute it all to the COT,” Busch said on a conference call with reporters earlier this week. “One day I might call it a race car, but I keep calling it a COT because we just haven’t quite turned the corner - literally, with this new car and trying to get it to handle better. It’s not due to lack of effort … It’s not the normal championship-type effort, but you are going to have your good years and your bad years, and you have to balance them all out.”
Last season was a good one for Busch as he won twice and qualified for NASCAR’s postseason. But his two victories – at Pocono and Michigan – both came with NASCAR’s old car that was used in 20 of 36 races.
This season marks the first for the new machine on NASCAR’s 1.5- and 2-mile tracks that comprise most of the Cup schedule. And those are the places where Busch has struggled the most.
“It’s a continued effort to find little things here and there - I don’t think it’s going to be one little thing that puts us back in the mix,” he
said. “It’s hard work, commitment and the belief that we can get it done and get back to the top.”
Busch’s season started on a high note as he finished second in the Daytona 500 to Penske Racing teammate Ryan Newman. But it took the Las Vegas native 14 races to earn another top-10 finish.
By then, Busch’s season was in trouble, and his chances of making The Chase For The NASCAR Sprint Cup all but over. So his team went back to the drawing board.
“We’ve got new chassis being built to try and new engine development for more horsepower,” he said. “Once everyone admitted it to themselves that we needed to try a bit harder, that was the first step. There is a lot going on behind the scenes now.”
Part of the behind-the-scenes work involves finding a driver for Penske’s No. 12 Dodge next season. Newman, the car's current occupant, is leaving at the end of 2008 to join Stewart-Haas Racing.
Penske test driver David Stremme and Dario Franchitti, who lost his Cup ride at Chip Ganassi Racing when Ganassi's No. 40 team folded, are thought to be candidates for the No. 12 car.
“I’ve been in the mix with [team owner] Roger [Penske] and [team President] Tim Cindric interviewing drivers and who is the best fit short term, long term, a veteran or an up-and-comer,” Busch said. “ … I’ve been in the mix trying to get the best candidate possible.”
Despite winning a rain-shortened race at New Hampshire on June 29 as a result of remaining on track when most of the leaders pitted under a late caution, Busch has failed to build much momentum. He has recorded just two top-10 results since the win and is 19th in the standings, 411 points out of 12th-place.
With little to lose by being aggressive in the final 13 races, Busch is already looking ahead to next season.
“We shoot for race wins,” he said. “That’s what’s important to us right now. We are trying different chassis setups and different motor and engine configurations to try to get a leg up and get 2009 under way.”
Busch’s best shot at another win this season may be Saturday night’s Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. His five victories at the track are the most among active Cup drivers.
He also scored his first career win at the .533-mile venue in spring 2002.
“It’s definitely a highlight to be able to race at Bristol and have it be my first win,” Busch said. “It’s a dream come true. You start out racing on the short tracks, and when you get to Bristol, it’s not your normal, everyday short track, but it reminds you of the history of stock car racing, and it’s start on the short track. First win at Bristol … that was pretty special.”
- Mentioned Drivers:
- Kurt Busch
Comments
1 response to "Kurt Busch still searching for answers heading into Bristol"
Janet Lyle said:
Aug 21, 2008 at 6:58 AMI know the problem is not Kurt,I think Penske just hasn't figured out the COT. Or maybe Kurt should look at another team. Kurt,your still a good driver in my book. Good Luck to you and Kyle at Bristol.
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