Busch visits ESPN campus ahead of first Chase race

BRISTOL, Conn. -- With the Chase for the Sprint Cup beginning Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Kurt Busch -- one of 12 drivers eligible to compete for the championship -- appeared on multiple ESPN platforms Wednesday during a visit to the network's campus.

ESPN's live telecasts of all 10 Chase races will air on ABC, beginning with the New Hampshire event at 1 p.m. ET Sunday.

Busch

Busch appeared on SportsCenter, First Take and ESPNEWS. He also conducted a live chat with fans on espn.com and co-hosted NASCAR Now on ESPN2 with Mike Massaro.

During the First Take interview, Busch was asked by host Jay Crawford about the emotions of winning the first Chase in 2004, not qualifying last year and then being back in this year.

"What it's all about is like making the playoffs," Busch said. "You can be a good football team all year, end up finishing 8-8 and you're not going to make it. And then there's the good years that you have when you're 12-4, then you go in as the favorites and you're the guys to beat.

"So sometimes you make the playoffs, sometimes you don't, but all it takes nowadays is to get locked into the Chase, and now we have a perfect shot at the championship, we're 30 points behind."

Crawford also asked Busch about his brother Kyle not making the Chase after winning four races this season.

"I was devastated for him, I couldn't believe it that he didn't make it," he said, "He won four races so far this year, and the way that their team has been running. They just didn't put that consistency together throughout the summer run. And so him outside looking in right now is tough. But hey, I'll be the Busch brother to carry the banner for this year's Chase."

Later, during the live chat on espn.com, Busch discussed his team's strategy for the Chase.

"The mentality changes to where every point counts," he said. "When you're in the race to the Chase, you are racing and trying to get in position, but now every point counts. We're going to try to win Loudon and the rest of the way."