In six Nextel Cup starts in 2004, Busch's best finish was 24th at Fontana in September. Credit: Autostock

Kyle Busch weighs pros, cons of rookie year

LAS VEGAS -- With all the changes NASCAR has made for the 2005 season, it's safe to assume that nearly everyone in the Nextel Cup Series garage area is feeling a bit like a rookie these days.

Kyle Busch says changes to the spoiler modifications and tire compound have actually helped him feel a bit more confident heading into his first full season in NASCAR's top series.

KYLE BUSCH •   Driver Page •   2004 Stats

"I was really skeptical when we first came here," Busch said. "I figured man this is going to be a terrible year with the problems that we had with the old spoiler and knowing that we were losing an inch off the spoiler. Now that we've gone through it, I'm excited now.

"My cars are driving probably 98 percent better than the Cup car I drove last year."

Crew chief Alan Gustafson says ignorance may make for bliss for Busch, at least early in the season.

Busch stands to benefit from advice from Hendrick teammates like Jimmie Johnson, as well as from his older brother, Kurt. Credit: Autostock

"Kyle doesn't know what the new changes are going to feel like anyway because he's only got a few (Cup) starts," he said. "I don't think that Kyle is going to see the nuances that Jeff Gordon is going to see. He'll notice the lack of downforce and the lack of grip."

Despite an impressive 2004 Busch Series campaign that saw him finish second in the series standings to Martin Truex Jr., Busch struggled mightily in a limited Nextel Cup schedule. In six Cup starts in '04, Busch's best finish was 24th at Fontana in September. He posted four DNFs.

This season, Busch takes the wheel of one of the highest-profile seats in NASCAR, the No. 5 Chevrolet that Terry Labonte drove to 12 Cup wins and the 1996 NASCAR championship.

Busch says he's well aware of the shoes he has to fill.

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"Just being able to jump in the seat is an honor," Busch said. "If I can just fill the shoes halfway up, that would be a great accomplishment. Right now I'm just trying to get the feel of the car and get the experience.

"We're gonna go on with the experiences that we need to and just work on the basic setups and the things we need to, to go to different facilites in order to run competitive."

He'll have a plethora of folks to lean on as he tries to conquer the learning curve, not the least of which is the defending Nextel Cup champion -- and his brother -- Kurt Busch.

"We can't share specific numbers, but we can share experiences," Kurt Busch said. "I can let him know when a hurricane is coming and let him know when he can be in the eye of the storm and survive it.

"He's open and willing to take that advice," Kurt Busch said.

While Kyle Busch has some of the best teammates a rookie could have over at Hendrick Motorsports, his brotherly bond with Kurt translates into a steady fountain of advice.

"I lean on Kurt a tremendous amount," Kyle Busch said. "I know that his cell phone is always on to me. He may have that five-letter word now -- champ -- but he's still my brother. I can still make fun of him and beat up on him."