Busch Series legends look back as final race nears (cont'd)

For better or worse, the Busch Series once had a rich tradition that consisted of independent teams with veteran series stalwarts like Ard, Ingram, Tommy Houston and any number of others racing ever so often against those from the Cup tour. The matter of Cup drivers racing in the Busch has always -- always -- been an issue in the division, but to have complained about the situation in years past seems almost comical given today's climate.

The last two Busch Series championships, the last two ever, have went to Cup stars Kevin Harvick and Carl Edwards and by ridiculous margins. There was no contest, the title all but decided in May both seasons.

An identity crisis? The Busch and soon to be Nationwide Series has one, big time. Still, Ponturo insists the problems the series faces had nothing to do with Anheuser-Busch's decision to end one of the longest-running sponsorships the sport has ever seen.

"It wasn't about NASCAR," Ponturo said. "The decision was a result of shifting marketing objectives within the company. Despite what opinions may exist, NASCAR has shaped the Busch Series into a tremendously successful property. It's in good hands."

THE REGULARS

The careers of Randy LaJoie, David Green and Jason Keller bridged the gap from past to present, the trio having raced against everyone from Ingram, Houston and Tommy Ellis to Harvick, Edwards and Denny Hamlin. They have seen the series expand from bullrings like Hickory and South Boston, where such things as pit walls just didn't seem to matter, to such far flung places as California, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Mexico City.

All three men have at one time or another turned down opportunities to race at the Nextel Cup level, opting instead to become bigger fish in a smaller pond. If anybody has earned the right to comment on what the Busch Series once was, what it is now and where they see it headed, it's these guys.

Green simply wants to see the series retain a sense of itself by maintaining a solid foundation of series veterans like himself and Keller.

"I feel like I'm a guy the series could view as a cornerstone, the same way as when I came in, I viewed Tommy Houston and Tommy Ellis," Green said. "Just like with Nextel Cup, we think of Richard Petty or [Dale] Earnhardt, I think the Busch Series needs somebody like that to identify with. Who's the cornerstone of the Busch Series [today]? Who's that guy? A bunch of Cup guys?"

"Maybe it's just me, but I get the perception that some of the younger guys don't respect what I have done for the Busch Series and what David Green has done for the Busch Series and what Mark Martin has done for the Busch Series," Keller added. "It's not that I want them to move over and not race me any harder, but some of the young guns come in and think the Busch Series owes them something. I don't think the Busch Series owes them a daggone thing."

THE OYGs (ORIGINAL YOUNG GUNS)

When LaJoie made his first Busch Series start at Darlington in April 1986, Ingram taught him a lesson in humility that he'll never forget.

"I went to Darlington and followed Jack Ingram around that place," LaJoie said. "I couldn't believe how much he taught me by following him. I was faster than him, and I finally passed him. When I passed him, I didn't know what I was doing.

"The series, with Tommy Houston and Sam Ard, those guys were willing, very willing to help you. It was a good time. They only had two or three guys working on the cars, and they wanted to beat you. But they also wanted to help you. It was a lot lower key than it is today."

There is no way to get around the fact that Cup drivers have competed in -- and most of the time, dominated -- the Busch Series since Earnhardt won its first official race in 1982. And to a person, Keller, Green and LaJoie admit that racing against guys from the other side of the fence elevated their game.

It also scared the daylights out of them.

Green had all of three Busch races under his belt -- one at Hickory in 1989, plus another at Hickory and one at Richmond the following season -- before qualifying on the pole at Daytona for the opening race of his rookie season. Just imagine what it must have been like for Green to see who'd qualified third.

"The guy that lined up right behind me in third was Dale Earnhardt," Green said. "That's when we qualified on Monday and we raced on the following Saturday. All week long, I just had nightmares about him putting me three-wide before we ever got to Turn 1." (Continued)