Busch, Montoya keep hot streaks going into Dover

DOVER, Del. -- For Kurt Busch, Saturday's two practices at Dover International Speedway kept him on track to maintain the strong start he feels is critical in the Chase. But for Juan Montoya, it was akin to continuing a sleepwalking dream.

Chase leader Mark Martin, on the other hand, proved that he'd be a threat in Sunday's AAA 400 by logging the best average lap time in 49 final practice laps, a 24.11-second effort. David Gilliland averaged a 24.04-second lap, but his TRG Motorsports Chevrolet made only 11 laps and plans to start-and-park.

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Of course, they'll all have to deal with Dover's most recent Cup winner, three-time defending Cup champion Jimmie Johnson. Johnson was fastest in Friday's practice and won the pole. Then Johnson was fourth and fifth, respectively, in Saturday's two sessions.

Busch, who's fifth in the championship, hopes his breakthrough year in the new car at Dover continues, following a fifth-place finish here in the summer. He was quickest in the day's first practice before slipping, late in Happy Hour, to seventh.

"It's the second race in the Chase and one of the keys to winning the championship in the Chase format is getting off to a strong start," said Busch, who finished sixth at New Hampshire. "This being the second race, it's obviously important to get out there and run strong and get those bonus points if you have a chance to do so, which is to lead a lap or lead the most laps.

"Of course, getting a nice solid finish is obviously the ultimate goal. To be running [strong] recently and to have a nice solid run like we did back here in June, we feel that our chances are great this weekend."

The biggest stumbling block Busch might have is a mediocre 16th-place qualifying run, and he hopes the early stages of the race include a few cautions. (Continued)