Busch drivers expect tough runs, thrilling finish

DARLINGTON, S.C. -- Darlington Raceway can be an intimidating place, even to the most experienced drivers.

Its 1.366 miles can come alive, some tell you, grabbing your car and slamming it into the wall in one of its four difficult corners. No other track in NASCAR -- heck, in the world -- is quite like Darlington.

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Some drivers have been coming to Darlington for years, and hate the place. Some drivers who go there the first time have heard all the horror stories of the "Darlington stripe" and have been too intimidated to compete.

This weekend, and 18-year-old NASCAR Busch Series rookie will make his first start at Darlington Raceway, competing in the Winn-Dixie 200. He's been in exactly two Busch Series races in his young career.

But do you think Kyle Busch is intimidated? Heck no.

Recently, Busch completed a test at Darlington, driving one of NEMCO Motorsports cars. To hear him talk, it was just another test, and Darlington is just another race track.

"It went well," Busch said of the test. "The car responded to all of the changes we made to it, which is a good sign. I'm going there with an open mind and hope to gain as much seat time as I can for the future. It's a neat place."

You think he'll still believe that if he gets one of those Darlington stripes?

During the test, Busch was able to keep the car off the wall. Maybe the Lady in Black was just teasing the teenager.

"We kept the right side clean, which usually means you're not trying hard enough," Busch said. "But I think we were trying just as hard as we needed to for my first time there."

Perhaps a chink in the confidence armor? Perhaps the young Busch realizes how tough Darlington really is?

Listen as he explains why it's good that the fast way around Darlington is up against the wall, especially in the treacherous Turns 1 and 2.

"I think it's good because if you were to run at the bottom," Busch said, "it would only mean that you'd sustain a much harder hit if you made contact with the outside wall."

Preparing for the inevitable? Perhaps.

But Busch is prepared. He even talked to older brother Kurt about getting around Darlington. Kurt should know, for he's finished seventh and second in the last two Winston Cup races there.

"He gave me plenty of good advice and tips, but none that I can reveal to the public," Busch said. "They're a family secret."

Keller looking for home-track success

Jason Keller is fully aware of the history and tradition of Darlington Raceway. After all, he's a South Carolina native.

	Jason Keller

Nothing would please Keller more than to win at Darlington.

"It's fair to say that a win at Darlington would mean more to me than winning at any other track on the circuit," Keller said. "I go to Darlington with an open mind and a lot of confidence. Although I haven't won there, it really boosts my confidence knowing that people recognize me because they've been following my career since my short track days and they know how special it would be to keep the Darlington trophy in South Carolina."

Keller got a valuable lesson about how to get around Darlington early in his career.

"One of the first races I was in at Darlington I went a lap down extremely early," Keller said. "Then I got behind Harry Gant and Robert Pressley and followed them around for the remainder of the race. That was the best lesson I could have got at Darlington. We all know that the chassis has to be perfect and you need to be able to manage your tires, but an experience like that is priceless."

McMurray hopes to keep things straight this time

In March, a day after the thrilling Ricky Craven-Kurt Busch battle, Todd Bodine and Jamie McMurray tangled while racing to the checkered flag in the darlingtonraceway.com 200. The race had been postponed by rain, but the finish made it worth the wait.

The two drivers got together, sending Bodine and McMurray sliding across the finish line.

"When we were here in March, we just missed winning the race by fractions of a second, and we were backwards at the time," Jamie McMurray said. "That last lap battle with Todd Bodine was probably the most fun I have had behind the wheel this year.

"I'm definitely looking forward to another dramatic event here. I just want the nose to cross before the spoiler does this time."