Kyle Busch said a new philosophy helped put his team in Victory Lane. Credit: Autostock

Kyle Busch running away with Cup rookie honors

Kyle Busch has turned the rookie of the year race in NASCAR's Nextel Cup Series into a one-man show.

With only 10 races to go this season, the younger brother of reigning Cup champion Kurt Busch has moved up to 19th in the standings and has seven top-five finishes -- the only first-year driver to finish that high in 2005.

	Credit: Autostock
	Inside the Numbers Nextel Cup rookie standings Driver Pts. W T-5 T-10 K. Busch 287 1 7 10 T. Kvapil 218 0 0 1

The 20-year-old, who became the youngest winner in Cup history two weeks ago in California, added a fourth-place finish last Saturday night in Richmond and now has led laps in seven races this season.

Things weren't looking as good for Kyle Busch before the California race as he went through his worst stretch of the season, finishing 33rd, 43rd and 33rd in consecutive races.

"A couple of weeks ago, right after Bristol and before California, I sat down with my guys and said, 'This is going to be our practice run for 2006. We've got 12 [races] to go.' Now, everybody seems to be working together and heading in the same direction."

Crew chief Alan Gustafson agreed, noting that the No. 5 Chevrolet team plans to approach the final 10 races as if it is part of the Chase for the Championship.

"We're going to see where we end up, where our weaknesses are and see where are strengths are and try to get everything better," Gustafson said. "We know that we're building. We didn't make it [into the Chase] and we're going to continue to work on it until we get it there."

Meanwhile, the team will work on getting another win before this season is over.

"I think we can get another win and that's really what we're focusing on, getting the consistency from here on out and getting a win or two and letting these guys know that we're here for real," Gustafson said. "We've got to earn a little respect so when we get there next year, they'll give it to us."

Going into the race Sunday at New Hampshire International Speedway, Busch is 69 points ahead of Travis Kvapil in the rookie standings.