NASCAR Champion Kurt Busch's rush to destiny at Gainesville Speedway is slowing down.

No, he's not backing off his plans to enter the Pro Stock portion of the NHRA Gatornationals. Those plans are full speed ahead.

Where Busch is experiencing a slowdown is inside the cockpit of his Shell/Pennzoil sponsored Dodge Avenger and as Busch explains it, slowing down is absolutely necessary to his efforts.

“We're 85 percent,” said Busch when asked if he was ready for Gainesville. “We're almost there. There is still more to learn and there always will be. The comfort in the car is settling in; things are slowing down when we're making our passes.”

 

NASCAR Champion Kurt Busch's rush to destiny at Gainesville Speedway is slowing down.

No, he's not backing off his plans to enter the Pro Stock portion of the NHRA Gatornationals. Those plans are full speed ahead.

Where Busch is experiencing a slowdown is inside the cockpit of his Shell/Pennzoil sponsored Dodge Avenger and as Busch explains it, slowing down is absolutely necessary to his efforts.

“We're 85 percent,” said Busch when asked if he was ready for Gainesville. “We're almost there. There is still more to learn and there always will be. The comfort in the car is settling in; things are slowing down when we're making our passes.”

“Slowing down” is a key part of a successful NHRA debut for Busch. A Pro Stock car keeps the driver plenty busy during the course of a run. It is important not to be overwhelmed inside the car in order to make clean quick runs.

Busch is getting there. He is also getting a handle on the lingo.

“I am able to understand when there is just enough wheel spin to stay in it. The driveshaft speed, the clutch speed, rpms, shift points – all of that is starting to make sense. Making car adjustments is still tough and we are relying heavily on Allen Johnson's crew chief, Mark Ingersol, to help us with what he thinks we need to do and I hope that we're helping them at the same time.”

At the current time, Busch is busy getting a leg up on the competition in the world of NASCAR. Busch won the 33rd Annual Budweiser Shootout in a thrilling final lap duel with Denny Hamlin. Hamlin actually crossed the finish line first, however he did so on the apron of the track which resulted in NASCAR moving his finishing position to 12th, the last car on the lead lap of the 75 lap affair.

While celebrating the victory questions about his NHRA endevour arose. The world of NASCAR has finally gotten the message – Busch is serious about running a Pro Stock in the NHRA when time permits.

Right now all of Busch's time is fairly well occupied with his efforts to win the Daytona 500. From there its on to Phoenix and Las Vegas on successive weekends. When the NASCAR race in Las Vegas is complete Busch will turn his attention back to the NHRA.

“We're going to go Tuesday to Bradenton the week of Gainesville. I will race Vegas Sunday, Monday is off, Tuesday in Bradenton, Wednesday is a travel and set-up day and Thursday is media day for Gainesville. Friday and Saturday are two qualifying days.”

The light at the end of the tunnel is in sight for this effort.

“Almost there,” said Busch. “If that Tuesday goes well, which I hope it does, if we can post a 6.55 maybe, in good track conditions – that will be good enough I think.

“I think we did a 6.58 in the heat of the day and Johnson gave us the thumbs up.”

Unlike a NASCAR event where Busch has a guaranteed spot in the top 35, there are no guarantees he will make the 16-car Pro Stock field. The numbers look good, but there will be plenty of nervous moments over the course of the two days of qualifying at Gainesville. Once in the show, Busch wants what every other driver wants.

“We want to go rounds,” declared Busch. “We want to advance no matter who we go up against. I am obviously the rookie. The respect I hope I show everybody is we're not there to mess around. We are there to be serious. How we stage needs to be a normal type of event that I can.

“It's not that I am going to try to beat the other guy. I just don't want to beat myself.”

 

 

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