Kurt Busch bypassed the Busch Series on his way to NASCAR's top division. Credit: Autostock

Former champ Busch to make NBS debut at TMS

Cup veteran says going to Busch cars will be an adjustment

MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Kurt Busch possesses the distinction of being NASCAR's 2004 Nextel Cup champion, but when he steps into his No. 39 Penske Truck Rental Dodge at Texas Motor Speedway on Thursday for Busch Series practice, he will be a rookie.

Busch bypassed the Busch Series en route to the world's premier stock car racing circuit, jumping to Cup after one full season in NASCAR's Craftsman Truck Series. Now, he's returning to school as a pupil in a different class. There are the rookie meetings and rookie practices, as well as the yellow bumper, which designates a rookie driver in the series. Of course, the color of Busch's car is yellow, so he notes with a smile,

"It's not like we're trying to shy away from the rookie stripe," he said.

The Las Vegas native also will have to adjust to the lighter weight Busch Series cars.

"I've talked with some of the other drivers and they say it's a cross between a Nextel Cup car and an IROC car," said Busch, who won the IROC championship in 2003. "So those will be the bits of experience I'll blend in.

"The toughest aspect will probably be how to adjust to the tire rule; how we only get six sets per weekend. I'm used to fresh Goodyear rubber all the time."

Busch will have his regular spotter Jeremy Brickhouse, handling those duties for him this year in his six Busch Series races and the Las Vegas native noted that was "definitely a comforting situation" when he's on the spotters' tower.

"I think it will be a fun challenge to understand how to drive a Busch car as a rookie," Busch said. "I have not tested the Busch car, because with the new testing procedure, that doesn't give the option to us."

However, Busch will participate in the rookie practice session and he believes that will be beneficial.

"I always thought I made a quick transition from Truck to Cup and if I had to do it all over again, I probably would have stayed an extra year in Truck and done a couple of years in Busch to gain more experience," Busch commented.

Busch, who is sharing driving duties in Penske Racing's Busch Series entry this year with teammate Ryan Newman, said the objective was "to help develop a farm team, so that we can have crew guys bump up from our Busch program to our Cup program."

Most of Busch's Nextel Cup crew were members of last year's Busch Series team that won six of nine Busch races.

"The whole basis of running Busch races is to develop teams, cars, equipment and people to help surround the Cup program," Busch continued. "There will be racetrack experience as well, mainly with the racing groove and how the tires react. This year we've had quite a few tire codes to adjust to. I plan on gathering as much information as I can before I race my first race."

Busch isn't alone in his debut. It is also Penske Truck Rental's initial venture into the sport as a primary sponsor.

"I'm glad Penske Truck Rental and I could be together when we both make our debut in the Busch Series," Busch said. "They were instrumental in helping us determine our Busch Series schedule and I'm excited about representing the company in the sport."