Busch fan monopolizes her time, creativity in his honor

Christina Kendall loves Kurt Busch. Hard to believe, right?

Busch was named one of the country's most-hated professional athletes in 2006 by a national publication, third only to Barry Bonds and Terrell Owens. And he's certainly not a fan favorite in the NASCAR garage.

But don't tell that to 32-year-old Kendall, she doesn't care. Busch's personality and competitive spirit alone is what convinced this Indiana native to become a NASCAR fan in the first place five years ago.

"It was the 2003 Darlington race in March," Kendall recalled. "I was planning my wedding at the time and thought I'd watch the race on television. The last few laps of that race were just awesome. I saw Kurt's interview and was so impressed by his character even though he lost the race by a hair."

Ricky Craven beat Busch by two-thousandths of a second in one of the closest margins of victory since NASCAR introduced electronic timing and scoring in 1993.

Since that day, Kendall has vowed to be a Busch supporter through thick and thin, regardless of her driver's perceived guise. Though one-sided for the most part, it's a fan-ship that has given her great joy throughout recent years.

Busch gives the game a thumbs-up at a recent autogpraph session.

What's more impressive is not what Busch has given this NASCAR fan, but what this NASCAR fan has given to Busch.

She gave him "Buschopoly."

What is that, some Busch family cartel, control over the NASCAR world?

No, it's a board game Kendall spent months creating and designing from her home computer in Jeffersonville, Ind. The game carries similar rules and principles as the popular board game. Only Buschopoly is relative only to Kurt Busch, his family and his racing career.

Kendall spent months researching his fan site, weeks of e-mailing questions to fellow Busch fans across the nation, days of designing paper money with Busch family faces on the front, and hours of laminating card stock.

What would compel someone to do such a thing?

"I got the idea and a friend told me I should send it to him," Kendall said. "I just wanted him to know that he has loyal fans out here that appreciate what he does, and this was my way of showing it."

Making the game was a huge undertaking alone, but actually getting Buschopoly to the man would require some creativity on Kendall's part.

She began chatting online with fellow fans and found a friend in Brandy Miller, who was headed to the August race at Michigan International Speedway. Busch was hosting an autograph session that weekend at the local Wal-Mart and Miller offered to deliver the game personally.

Christina's thank you from Busch

Christina - Thank you so much for the most creative gift of all time. Buschopoly is a huge hit around the Busch family. Please accept one of our wedding bottles as a return gift. Thanks again, Kurt

"Afterwards Brandy e-mailed me and said Kurt loved the game," Kendall said. "I really didn't hear anymore more until I contacted Kurt's assistant to tell her that I was glad he liked the game."

Kurt was overwhelmed and moved by the gesture.

"It is such a magnificent piece and a true sense of timeline of my career and even my life as well as my family and my wife, Eva," Busch said. "It really hit home and makes you feel special that someone out there is watching you and following your life. I felt like Christina was very genuine and she left a tingling feeling in my heart."

Perhaps that is why NASCAR fans go above and beyond to show their loyalty, because in a sport such as this, the heroes are more than just posters on walls or players in fantasy leagues. NASCAR drivers are reachable, accessible and most of all, impressionable.

After Busch received the game, he sent a hand-written thank you note to Kendall and a Miller Lite gift-wrapped bottle of brew from his wedding ceremony.

"Honestly, I didn't expect all this," Kendall said. "I just did it to show Kurt, hey there are people out here that support you and think you're great."

And what's greater is that Busch often plays the game.

"The first time we played with about seven people, my wife included. She ended up winning, she gets it all in the end anyway," Busch, 30, said with a laugh. "Eva is on the $500 and my 2004 Cup championship was boardwalk. The detail in the game was amazing."

Kendall created game pieces resembling each type of car Busch has raced dating to age 15 when he ran Dwarf cars in the dirt at Pahrump Valley Speedway.

The money might be the most impressive feature on the game.

Kendall, a banker by trade, spends her downtime perfecting her graphic art skills.

"The money is probably the most detailed," she said. "Kurt is the $20 and it has his signature along with his photo. And so does Roger Penske's. He's the $50 and Kyle is the $5."

Last, the game has for sale pit stalls and garages as opposed to homes and hotels.

Kendall said when she tells her fellow Hoosiers that she is a Kurt Busch fan they scoff and ask why in the world she would support such a driver over a Jeff Gordon or Tony Stewart.

"I get a lot of that here but I think that's the thing," she said. "Prior to watching the race I never knew anything about his past, it didn't have factor in my supporting him. I've heard the past things; to me, every NASCAR driver is like that to a point. They show emotion and I like that about him."

That's the fortunate thing about NASCAR fans. They follow their drivers unconditionally through the highs and lows, wins and losses.

"I replay the videos from that Darlington race where you see him walk up to Craven in Victory Lane and congratulate him," Kendall recalled. "I love that part. That was awesome."

The opinions expressed are solely of the writer.

Video
• Watch highlights from the March 2003 race at Darlington

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