Reed Sorenson will double up this season and run both the Cup and Busch schedules. Credit: Autostock

Sorenson using test to prep for busy season

Cup rookie said he will benefit from racing both schedules

LAS VEGAS -- Looking forward to his rookie season in Nextel Cup Series competition, Reed Sorenson returns to the Busch Series as one of several drivers who will be competing full time in both series. After finishing fourth in the 2005 Busch Series standings, he's considered a favorite to win the championship in 2006.

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Sorenson sees the opportunity as much about track time as it is about winning.

"For the most part, running both series is all about gaining experience with seat time," said Sorenson, who is one of 43 drivers participating in Busch Series testing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this week. "I still have a lot to learn and I believe running in both series will help shorten the learning curve and keep me focused. It's going to be an extremely busy year, but I'm looking forward to the challenge.

"I believe that you can feed off of the momentum of each series. If you have a good run on Saturday [in Busch Series competition], then your confidence is high going into Sunday's race. If you run well in a NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race, then you carry that over to the next weekend."

Sorenson got his initial confidence last year when he won two races and finished second to Carl Edwards in the rookie of the year standings. He was locked in a close rookie battle all season, not only with Edwards, but with Jon Wood, Denny Hamlin and J.J. Yeley. Three of those drivers -- Edwards, Hamlin and Yeley -- will join Sorenson in running in both series this year.

With another strong rookie class that includes Todd Kluever, Danny O'Quinn, Burney Lamar and Mark McFarland, Sorenson offered some perspective to this year's Busch Series rookie class.

"I think just how we're approaching it," Sorenson said. "Don't worry as much about what your competitors are doing each week and stay focused on your goals and let everything fall in place."

So what are Sorenson's goals for the Busch Series in 2006?

"To win the championship," Sorenson said. "We think we have the team to do it and we're certainly going to give it our all. Our goals are to go out there and do the best we can each week and we'll see how it ends up."

Kluever ready for his Busch Series debut: After testing at both Daytona International Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway, rookie Todd Kluever is ready to make his Busch Series debut.

"I had a great time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Daytona last year, although I still have yet to finish a race there," said Kluever, the 2005 rookie of the year in the Truck Series. "This year I not only want to finish the race, but finish well enough to not have to dig ourselves out of a hole in the points early in the season."