Kyle Busch, Stremme get first shot at IRP

CLERMONT, Ind. -- Are these guys really that good, or is it just beginner's luck?

David Stremme and Kyle Busch have been impressive in a limited number of NASCAR Busch Series starts, and Saturday night's Kroger 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park is a chance for them to solidify their status as two of NASCAR's up-and-coming young drivers.

2003 Busch Series  Drivers  Crew Chiefs  Schedule  Driver Standings  Manufacturer Standings  Rookie Standings  Race Review  Best 25: Last 6 races  2003 Best Starts  2003 Best Finishes

For Stremme, who has five top-10 finishes in nine NASCAR Busch Series starts this season, IRP may be like having home-field advantage.

The South Bend, Ind., native has logged hundreds of miles on the .686-mile oval and has three victories there.

"I don't know that I have an advantage over these guys because I have never run a NASCAR Busch Series car here," Stremme said. "My experience here will definitely help, and I am going with a lot of confidence.

"Plus, it's a nice change to be able to focus on the car instead of having to learn what line to drive as well."

Stremme, sharing driving duties in the No. 1 Dodge this season with Winston Cup rookie Jamie McMurray, finished 11th in last weekend's race at Pikes Peak. Even when he's not behind the wheel of the car, he's at each track, trying to learn as much as he can.

"Jamie has been an amazing teammate," said Stremme. "He gives me advice even at the tracks he's not at. I rely on him a lot along with many other people."

Busch is hoping to follow up his stunning second-place Busch Series debut at Lowe's Motor Speedway in May by attempting to qualify Joe Nemechek's No. 87 Chevrolet.

It may be Busch's first time at IRP in a Busch Series car, but it's not his first time at the track. He made his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut at IRP as a 16-year-old, finishing ninth. Last year, Busch wound up 10th in an American Speed Association event.

Now 18, Busch knows the competition won't be impressed by his instant success.

"The NASCAR Busch Series guys have a lot more experience than I have right now," Busch said. "Even though we've already run one NASCAR Busch Series race at Charlotte, that was a speedway.

"Now we're going to a short track and hopefully we can back up our first performance and run really well."

Busch, younger brother of Winston Cup driver Kurt Busch, spent two days in July testing at IRP. He's expected to run five more races with the Nemechek team this season -- Darlington, Dover, Memphis, Atlanta and Rockingham.